The Korea Football Association (KFA) is facing allegations of paying for visits to massage parlors offering sexual services for foreign referees before at least seven international matches.
According to the South Korean television broadcaster JTBC and the news agency Yonhap, the bribery allegations concern the period between 2011 and 2012.
JTBC's research is based on documents from a state audit and credit card statements.
Specific allegations and findings
The KFA allegedly paid for two Japanese assistant referees to visit a massage parlor before a World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait in February 2012. South Korea won that match 2-0 and advanced to the next qualifying round.
The visits to the massage parlors, which South Korean media say offer sexual services, cost the equivalent of several hundred euros.
Favors of this kind were common and were sometimes even expected by the referees.
— A former KFA official, according to JTBC
While the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism identified these incidents in 2016 following an audit of the KFA, the findings were not made public at that time.
Whether the referees were influenced to make one-sided decisions in matches involving the South Korean national team has not been proven.
Prostitution is prohibited in South Korea, although massage parlors offering sexual services are widespread.
Institutional impact and investigations
A raid took place at the KFA premises on Thursday.
The KFA is also accused of bypassing usual rules in the appointment of former national coach Hong Myung-bo by providing him the job without a proper application process.
The statutes of international football associations prohibit any form of financial benefits to referees.
Updates
Police have raided the KFA headquarters over allegations of nepotism in the July 2024 appointment of coach Hong Myung-bo, following South Korea’s 2026 World Cup group-stage exit, while a former official allegedly claimed the association sought referees who would “blow their whistles in our favour”; the referees involved were from Japan, the UAE, Iran, Bahrain, and Uzbekistan, according to Yonhap.
Police raided the KFA headquarters Thursday as part of an investigation into the July 2024 appointment of coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned after South Korea’s 2026 World Cup group-stage exit, while new allegations emerged that the KFA sought to influence referees — from Japan, the UAE, Iran, Bahrain, and Uzbekistan — to “blow their whistles in our favour.”
Following South Korea's group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters to investigate irregularities in the July 2024 appointment of coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned amid public backlash and death threats, while President Lee Jae-myung accused the KFA of nepotism — a probe that had stalled for nearly two years before being reactivated.
Police raided the KFA headquarters on Thursday as part of an investigation into the July 2024 appointment of former coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned after South Korea’s 2026 World Cup group-stage exit and faced death threats, while President Lee Jae-myung accused the KFA of nepotism — a probe that had stalled for nearly two years before being reactivated.
Following South Korea's group stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters to investigate irregularities in the July 2024 appointment of former coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned amid death threats and presidential criticism labeling him 'incapable' and accusing the KFA of nepotism — an investigation that had stalled for nearly two years before resuming.
Following South Korea's group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters over allegations of nepotism in the appointment of former coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned after facing public backlash and death threats; President Lee Jae-myung condemned the decision as nepotistic, while the KFA apologized for recent
Following South Korea’s group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters in connection with nepotism allegations surrounding the July 2024 appointment of coach Hong Myung-bo — a move that had stalled for two years before resuming — while President Lee Jae-myung publicly called him 'incapable' and the KFA accused of favoritism; Hong, who previously failed to advance past the group stage in 2014, resigned after receiving death threats, prompting heightened airport security for the team’s return, and the KFA formally apologized, admitting it had been in a 'desolate situation' and pledging a 'fundamental renewal,' though it claimed the referee misconduct occurred
Following South Korea's group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, former national team coach Hong Myung-bo resigned amid public backlash and death threats, with President Lee Jae-myung accusing the KFA of nepotism; police subsequently raided the KFA headquarters to investigate his July 2024 appointment, a probe that had stalled for nearly two years, while the KFA issued a formal apology acknowledging a 'desolate situation' and pledged a 'fundamental renewal,' though it claimed the referee bribery allegations dated back over a decade.
Following South Korea’s group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters in connection with the July 2024 appointment of former coach Hong Myung-bo, whose resignation came amid public backlash and death threats, while President Lee Jae-myung accused the KFA of nepotism — a probe that had stalled for two years before resuming; the KFA has since apologized, acknowledging a 'desolate situation' and pledging a 'fundamental renewal,' though it claimed the referee misconduct allegations dated from over a decade ago.
Following South Korea’s group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters over alleged nepotism in the appointment of former coach Hong Myung-bo — a move that came after a two-year stalled investigation, and amid public outcry, death threats against Hong, and President Lee Jae-myung’s accusation of institutional favoritism; the KFA has since apologized, acknowledging a 'desolate situation' and pledging a 'grundlegende Erneuerung,' while insisting the referee bribery allegations stem from incidents over a decade ago.
Following South Korea's group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters over allegations of nepotism in the appointment of former coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned amid public backlash and death threats, while a renewed investigation into past referee misconduct — including the use of corporate cards for massage parlor visits during 2011–2012 matches — was confirmed, with the KFA now admitting the incidents occurred more than a decade ago and pledging a 'fundamental renewal' after issuing a formal apology.
Following South Korea's group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters over allegations of nepotism in the appointment of former coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned after facing public backlash and death threats, while a new investigation revealed the KFA had used corporate cards to provide inappropriate entertainment to at least 12 foreign referees during 2011–2012 matches — a practice the association now admits occurred more than ten years ago and has since ceased, though it had previously denied such claims during a 2016 government probe that found no conclusive evidence.
Following South Korea’s group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters over allegations of nepotism in appointing former coach Hong Myung-bo—whose resignation was followed by death threats and public condemnation, including from President Lee Jae-myung—and renewed scrutiny revealed that the KFA had used corporate cards to pay for inappropriate entertainment for at least 12 foreign referees during 2011–2012 matches, a practice the association now admits occurred more than ten years ago and has since ceased, while also acknowledging a 'desolate situation' and pledging a 'fundamental renewal'.
Following South Korea’s group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters and reopened an investigation into the controversial appointment of former coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned amid public backlash and death threats, while President Lee Jae-myung accused the KFA of nepotism — a probe that had stalled for two years before being revived; the KFA has since apologized, acknowledging past misconduct involving referees between 2011–2012 but insisting such practices have ceased, and pledged a 'fundamental renewal' amid ongoing scrutiny over both historical bribery allegations and current coaching appointments.
Following South Korea's group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, police raided the KFA headquarters over allegations of nepotism in coach appointments, specifically targeting Hong Myung-bo's July 2024 hiring — a probe that had stalled for two years; President Lee Jae-myung called Hong 'incapable,' while the KFA issued a public apology admitting to past misconduct involving referees during the 2012 Olympics and 2014 World Cup qualifiers, now acknowledging the incidents occurred over a decade ago and that many current members were unaware, while also confirming corporate cards were used to pay for inappropriate services — though no such activity is ongoing.
