SEOUL, Aug 9 — South Korea’s under-fire football association has apologised over a string of controversies, from alleged unfair practices in appointing a coach to claims it provided sexual entertainment for foreign referees.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) has faced mounting criticism since South Korea crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage despite high hopes for a “golden generation” led by Son Heung-min.

Head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned immediately after a shock 1-0 defeat to South Africa sealed the team’s early exit from the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

But his departure did little to ease public anger and instead intensified scrutiny over how he was appointed.

Local media reported last week that the KFA had provided sexual entertainment for foreign referees in 2011 and 2012, citing a 2016 government audit that had not previously been made public.

“We sincerely apologise for the deep disappointment and concern caused by the various controversies surrounding the association in the wake of the 2026 World Cup,” the KFA said in a statement posted on its website Saturday.

The association said it was facing “a truly deplorable situation” and acknowledged that it had “lost sight of our fundamental role”.

The apology came after police raided KFA headquarters as part of an investigation into the appointment of Hong, 57, who played for South Korea at the 2002 World Cup on home soil.

Questions had already surrounded his appointment in 2024, but scrutiny intensified after South Korea failed to reach the last 32.

South Korean MPs summoned Hong and former and current KFA officials to a parliamentary hearing on July 30, where they questioned them about the hiring process and Hong’s annual salary.

The KFA then faced fresh controversy over allegations that foreign referees received sexual entertainment in 2011 and 2012.

A 2016 government audit, reported by local broadcaster JTBC, found that the KFA had provided “inappropriate hospitality” on eight occasions to foreign referees and officials from the Chinese Football Association.

Social media users have since circulated a list of foreign referees who officiated South Korea’s matches during the period.

The KFA said many within the association had been “unaware” of the incidents, but did not deny that they occurred.

“The association wishes to make clear that such improper conduct... is no longer taking place,” it said. — AFP