A historic scandal resurfaces
The Korea Football Association (KFA) issued a public apology this week for allegations that foreign referees were subjected to sexual services during visits to South Korea from 2011 to 2012. The admission marks the first official acknowledgment of a scandal that has lingered for more than a decade.
According to a report by the broadcaster JTBC, seven separate incidents were documented from March 2011 to March 2012, during which referees were allegedly entertained at massage parlors using KFA‑funded corporate cards. The investigation revealed that the expenses were recorded as legitimate travel costs, allowing the association to funnel money toward inappropriate entertainment.
While the KFA stopped short of admitting legal violations, it emphasized that such conduct is no longer part of its operations. “The misuse of corporate resources for sexual favors is a practice of the past,” a KFA spokesperson said in a statement released to the media.
Leadership shake‑up under scrutiny
The apology comes at a delicate moment for South Korean football. A separate probe into the 2024 appointment of former national team captain Hong Myung‑bo as head coach uncovered procedural irregularities within the KFA’s selection process. Although no criminal conduct has been proven, the findings have intensified calls for greater transparency in coaching appointments.
Adding to the pressure, South Korea’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended in the group stage, a result that many analysts link to the broader governance instability within the federation. Critics argue that the KFA’s handling of both historical misconduct and recent administrative lapses undermines confidence in its ability to steer the sport forward.
The KFA’s latest communiqué seeks to reassure fans and sponsors that reforms are underway, but the twin shadows of past scandals and current governance questions will likely continue to dominate discussions about the future of Korean football.