South Korea's football governing body has offered a public apology after startling allegations emerged claiming it arranged sexual services for foreign match officials more than ten years ago. The controversy erupted following a report by broadcaster JTBC published on Thursday, which accused the Korea Football Association (KFA) of organizing such arrangements for international referees on several occasions during 2011 and 2012.
According to the JTBC report, this timeframe overlapped with a sensitive period for South Korean football, encompassing qualification matches for the 2014 World Cup as well as the London Olympics, which the country hosted events for in 2012. The broadcaster's investigation referenced findings from a 2016 probe conducted by the sports ministry, which reportedly concluded that the KFA had extended what was termed "inappropriate entertainment" to visiting referees on seven separate occasions between March 2011 and March 2012.
Among the alleged incidents were visits to massage establishments, with expenses reportedly covering costs associated with sexual services provided to the officials. The KFA has yet to issue a detailed response addressing the specific claims or answer further questions about the alleged conduct.
In its statement addressing the controversy, the association expressed regret over the situation. "We deeply apologise for causing concern over various issues involving the association, which emerged from a parliamentary hearing and an unprecedented search and seizure, and from reports about events from more than a decade ago, that even many within the organisation were unaware of," the KFA said.
The body also sought to distance its current operations from the alleged historical misconduct, stating firmly that such behavior is no longer part of its practices. "The association makes clear that inappropriate conduct of this kind, or the use of corporate cards for such purposes, is absolutely not currently taking place," the KFA added.
This scandal compounds existing pressure on the KFA, which has already faced intense scrutiny over its handling of the appointment of former national team manager Hong Myung-bo. Authorities in Seoul carried out a raid on the association's headquarters on Thursday as part of an ongoing police investigation connected to how Hong was brought back into the role.
Hong had returned to lead the national team in 2024, marking his second stint in charge after previously managing the side between 2013 and 2014. Questions arose almost immediately regarding the process behind his reappointment, as the KFA reportedly scrapped a lengthy search that had included international candidates, instead opting for Hong following what was described as a brief meeting.
Scrutiny over the coaching appointment intensified after South Korea's underwhelming showing at the World Cup, where the team was knocked out in the group stage. The Taegeuk Warriors had opened their campaign with a comeback victory over the Czech Republic, generating optimism, but that momentum evaporated as they subsequently fell to defeats against both South Africa and Mexico, sealing an early exit from the tournament.
The disappointing result triggered fierce criticism from South Korea's president, and Hong ultimately stepped down from his position amid what was widely regarded as a humiliating outcome for the program. The convergence of the coaching controversy and the newly surfaced referee scandal has placed significant pressure on the KFA's leadership, raising fresh questions about governance and oversight within the organization during a turbulent period for Korean football.
Based on reporting from The Independent.