South Korea’s nationwide soccer affiliation apologised on Saturday after a media report alleged it had supplied ‘sexual providers’ to overseas referees once they had been within the nation for worldwide matches greater than a decade in the past.
South Korean broadcaster JTBC reported on Thursday that the Korea Soccer Affiliation (KFA) had supplied such providers to overseas referees on a number of events in 2011 and 2012, together with once they had been within the nation for qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics.
‘We deeply apologise for inflicting concern over varied points involving the affiliation, which emerged from a parliamentary listening to and an unprecedented search and seizure, and from stories about occasions from greater than a decade in the past, that even many throughout the organisation had been unaware of,’ the KFA mentioned in a press release.
In its information report, JTBC cited a 2016 sports activities ministry investigation that discovered the KFA had supplied inappropriate leisure to overseas referees on seven events between March 2011 and March 2012, together with journeys to therapeutic massage parlours the place the charges had included the prices of sexual providers.
The KFA didn’t instantly reply to an electronic mail looking for additional remark and particulars.
‘The affiliation makes clear that inappropriate conduct of this type, or using company playing cards for such functions, is completely not at present happening,’ the KFA mentioned in its assertion.
South Korea’s early exit on the World Cup group phases prompted consternation at dwelling
The allegations add to scrutiny of the affiliation over a separate subject involving the appointment of former nationwide workforce coach Hong Myung-bo.
Seoul police raided the KFA’s workplaces on Thursday as a part of an investigation associated to Hong’s appointment, police informed Reuters.
Hong returned as nationwide workforce coach in 2024 after a earlier spell in cost from 2013 to 2014. His appointment drew scrutiny after the KFA deserted a months-long search involving overseas candidates and chosen Hong following a short assembly.
The controversy resurfaced after South Korea’s disappointing World Cup marketing campaign resulted in a group-stage exit.
