Key facts
- Police are considering expanding an investigation into the Korea Football Association (KFA).
- The probe involves allegations that the KFA provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees.
- These alleged incidents occurred between March 2011 and March 2012.
- The allegations surfaced from a 2016 government audit report.
- Police are also investigating the KFA's controversial appointment of former head coach Hong Myung-bo.
- Investigators recently raided the KFA's offices for documents related to Hong's hiring.
Police in South Korea are contemplating an expansion of their investigation into the Korea Football Association (KFA) concerning allegations that the organization provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees between 2011 and 2012. This potential widening of the probe is linked to a government audit report from 2016, which detailed the KFA's alleged payments for services at massage parlors and other adult establishments for visiting referees. The KFA is currently facing scrutiny over its controversial appointment of former head coach Hong Myung-bo in 2024, a matter for which police recently raided the association's offices to secure relevant documents.
An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Agency stated that police would review the case if an investigation is launched, noting that the statute of limitations is a key factor. Many offenses in South Korea carry a 15-year statute of limitations, which could prevent charges related to prostitution laws. Separately, the report mentions that 226 individuals are under investigation for illegal activities connected to protests over ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections, with five people referred to prosecution for searching the belongings of the national women's youth handball team and six others facing charges for assaulting journalists.