South Korea referee bribery scandal faces legal expiration

A corruption scandal involving the Korea Football Association (KFA) regarding alleged bribes paid to foreign referees through sexual entertainment may face no legal consequences due to the statute of limitations. An audit by the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism revealed that during 2010 and 2011, association resources and corporate credit cards were used to pay for sexual services for foreign referees officiating international matches, including Olympic and World Cup qualifiers.

The Korean National Police Agency stated that no further legal action can be taken regarding the allegations of facilitating prostitution because the legal time limit for such charges has expired. While the KFA has issued an apology for past inappropriate actions, the matter remains a significant reputational issue.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has announced its own investigation after reports indicated that at least three of its referees were identified as having received ‘improper hospitality’ in South Korea in January 2012. The CFA intends to thoroughly investigate the incidents involving its employees.