South Korea’s football federation provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees before and after international matches, a government audit report revealed. The report said the Korea Football Association (KFA) used business credit cards to pay for sexual entertainment for visiting referees at massage parlours in Seoul and other cities that hosted international matches between March 2011 and March 2012. Those matches included qualifying games for the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.Around twelve referees and match coordinators received the favours provided by the KFA across seven matches, according to the report compiled in 2016. The officials came from Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Bahrain and Uzbekistan. South Korea’s news outlet Yonhap News Agency reported South Korea remained undefeated in the seven matches with five wins and two draws.The report emerged this week as part of an investigation into the KFA’s appointment of former coach Hong Myung-bo in 2024. In two Olympic qualifying matches, South Korea beat Oman 2-0 on September 21, 2011. The nation then drew against Qatar, with no goals scored, on March 14, 2012. The report said the Korea Football Association (KFA) used business credit cards to pay for sexual entertainment for visiting referees at massage parlours in Seoul and other cities that hosted international matches (Pictured: KFA HQ) But South Korea had already secured an Olympic spot before the game.On February 29, 2012, South Korea beat Kuwait 2-0 to progress to the next phase of the World Cup qualification.South Korea had been the favourites in all three matches.The KFA could also escape FIFA sanctions. The organisation’s Code of Ethics bars most cases from being pursued after five years, with only bribery and corruption allegations carrying a 10-year limitation period.There is no time limit for cases involving sexual abuse, harassment or exploitation. But paying for sexual entertainment may not be covered by those provisions.Cho Chung-yun, who was KFA president at the time, was referred to police by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism following a 2016 audit that alleged he had misused federation funds.The ministry also found that current and former KFA staff had used business credit cards at massage parlours and other inappropriate establishments.The ministry said on Friday it had investigated claims referees had been provided sexual entertainment, but it struggled to verify all the facts.Those KFA employees accused of improper business credit card use were not convicted and did not receive disciplinary repercussions from the football association. South Korea’s defender Lee Gi-hyuk reacted in dismay after his team lost a FIFA World Cup match to South Africa this yearFormer KFA officials told local news outlet JTBC that the referees asked to visit the adult establishments and that it was ‘common practice at the time’ to accommodate their wishes. While one noted the practice extends past South Korea and is more common in other countries.A current KFA official has since said strict internal guidelines have been implemented.The report, compiled by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emerged mere hours after police raided the KFA HQ in Cheonan and the KFA House in Seoul.The raids came as part of an investigation into the KFA’s appointment of the former coach Myung-bo in 2024. His appointment faced criticism after the KFA abandoned a months-long search involving foreign applicants and appointed him after a brief meeting. Hong returned as national team coach after a brief time in the position from 2013 to 2014. The investigation was sparked after South Korea’s disappointing performance in the FIFA World Cup campaign, which ended in a group-stage exit. During the raids, police seized documents believed to show whether Hong’s hiring process included improper meddling and obstruction by KFA leaders, including by its former chief Chung Mong-gyu.Both Hong and Chung stepped down after South Korea’s exit from the tournament this year. The pair also testified in parliament last month and were scrutinised over the reasons behind the disappointing performance and the operations within the KFA.