South Korea soccer affiliation apologises over allegations regarding qualifiers for World Cup 2014 and the London 2012 Olympic Video games.
Revealed On 8 Aug 2026
South Korea’s nationwide soccer affiliation has apologised after a media report alleged it had offered “sexual providers” to international 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 offered such providers to international 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.
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“We deeply apologise for inflicting concern over numerous points involving the affiliation, which emerged from a parliamentary listening to and an unprecedented search and seizure, and from studies 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 on Saturday.
In its information report, JTBC cited a 2016 sports activities ministry investigation that discovered the KFA had offered inappropriate leisure to international 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 e-mail in search of additional remark and particulars.
“The affiliation makes clear that inappropriate conduct of this type, or the usage of company playing cards for such functions, is completely not at the moment happening,” the KFA mentioned in its assertion.
The allegations add to scrutiny of the affiliation over a separate situation involving the appointment of former nationwide staff coach Hong Myung-bo.
Seoul police raided the KFA’s offices on Thursday as a part of an investigation associated to Hong’s appointment, police instructed Reuters.
Hong returned as nationwide staff 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 international 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.
