South Korean FA allegedly engaged in misconduct with referees
3 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Aug 9, 2026, 6:52 AM
Last updated Aug 9, 2026
The South Korean Football Association (KFA) is under scrutiny for allegedly providing sexual entertainment to foreign referees between March 2011 and March 2012. A government audit report from 2016 revealed that corporate credit cards were used for these payments at various adult establishments in Seoul during international matches, including qualifiers for the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup. Several referees from countries such as Japan and the UAE reportedly accepted such favors. The KFA faces significant political pressure, as recent raids of its offices by authorities sought to investigate potential misconduct linked to former officials in the hiring process for the national team coach.
- •KFA allegedly paid for sexual entertainment to referees from 2011 to 2012.
- •Payments were made using corporate credit cards at adult establishments.
- •The incidents involved referees from Japan, UAE, Iran, Bahrain, and Uzbekistan.
- •2016 audit findings were previously undisclosed until now.
- •KFA offices were raided amid ongoing investigations into coaching appointments.
- 6:52 AMYahoo Sports — South Korea FA apologises after sex scandal adds to controversies
- 7:34 AMYahoo Sports — South Korean FA apologizes over sexual entertainment allegations
- 8:03 AMYahoo Sports — Report: South Korean FA paid for sexual entertainment to referees
"The South Korean Football Association (KFA) apologized on Saturday over allegations it provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees before and after international matches held in the country between 2011 and 2012. Earlier this week, a government audit from 2016 was made public that found the KFA used corporate credit cards to pay for sexual entertainment at massage parlours and other adult establishments in Seoul and other cities that hosted international matches between March 2011 and Marc
"The South Korean Football Association (KFA) has allegedly provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees between 2011 and 2012, the Yonhap news agency reported on Friday citing a past government audit report. According to the audit report compiled by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2016, the KFA used corporate credit cards to pay for sexual entertainment at massage parlours and other adult establishments in Seoul and other cities that hosted international matches between March
"South Korea's under-fire football association has apologised over a series of controversies ranging from accusations of using unfair practices to appoint a coach to allegations that it provided sexual entertainment for foreign referees. Then came the allegations of foreign referees being provided with sexual entertainment in 2011-12.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsAug 9, 2026, 6:52 AMSouth Korea FA apologises after sex scandal adds to controversies
South Korea's under-fire football association has apologised over a series of controversies ranging from accusations of using unfair practices to appoint a coach to allegations that it provided sexual entertainment for foreign referees. Then came the allegations of foreign referees being provided with sexual entertainment in 2011-12.
- Yahoo SportsAug 8, 2026, 7:34 AMSouth Korean FA apologizes over sexual entertainment allegations
The South Korean Football Association (KFA) apologized on Saturday over allegations it provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees before and after international matches held in the country between 2011 and 2012. Earlier this week, a government audit from 2016 was made public that found the KFA used corporate credit cards to pay for sexual entertainment at massage parlours and other adult establishments in Seoul and other cities that hosted international matches between March 2011 and Marc
- Yahoo SportsAug 7, 2026, 8:03 AMReport: South Korean FA paid for sexual entertainment to referees
The South Korean Football Association (KFA) has allegedly provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees between 2011 and 2012, the Yonhap news agency reported on Friday citing a past government audit report. According to the audit report compiled by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2016, the KFA used corporate credit cards to pay for sexual entertainment at massage parlours and other adult establishments in Seoul and other cities that hosted international matches between March
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