SEOUL: South Korea’s under-fire soccer affiliation has apologised over a collection of controversies starting from accusations of utilizing unfair practices to nominate a coach to allegations that it offered sexual leisure for overseas referees.
The Korea Soccer Affiliation (KFA) has been beneath heavy fireplace since South Korea crashed out of the World Cup on the group stage, regardless of excessive expectations for a “golden era” captained by Son Heung-min.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned instantly after a shock 1-0 defeat to South Africa sealed his group’s early exit from the showpiece in america, Mexico and Canada.
However his departure did little to quell public outrage over the disappointing marketing campaign and added gasoline to pre-existing questions on how Hong was employed.
It emerged in native media final week that the KFA had offered overseas referees with sexual leisure in 2011 and 2012, citing a 2016 authorities audit that had not beforehand been made public.
“We sincerely apologise for the deep disappointment and concern attributable to the assorted controversies surrounding the affiliation within the wake of the 2026 World Cup,” the KFA stated in a press release posted on its web site on Saturday.
Dealing with mounting criticism, the KFA stated it discovered itself “in a really deplorable state of affairs”, acknowledging that it had “overlooked our basic position”.
The apology adopted a police raid on KFA headquarters as a part of an investigation into the appointment of the previous defender Hong, 57, who performed on the 2002 World Cup on house soil.
Questions had already dogged the KFA over Hong’s appointment in 2024, however scrutiny intensified after the group failed to succeed in the final 32.
South Korean MPs summoned Hong and former and present KFA officers to a parliamentary listening to on Jul 30, questioning them concerning the hiring course of and Hong’s annual wage.
Then got here the allegations of overseas referees being supplied with sexual leisure in 2011 to 2012.
The 2016 authorities audit, reported by native broadcaster JTBC, discovered that the KFA had offered “inappropriate hospitality” on eight events to overseas referees and officers from the Chinese language Soccer Affiliation.
Social media customers have since circulated a listing of overseas referees who officiated South Korea’s matches throughout that point.
The KFA’s apology stated many throughout the affiliation had been “unaware” of the incidents, however didn’t deny they occurred.
“The affiliation needs to clarify that such improper conduct … is now not happening,” it stated.
