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WK League referee misconduct investigation

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2026-08-31 04:24 UTC → 2026-08-31 08:33 UTC · added ~~removed~~

A controversy emerged in the South Korean WK League following allegations that referee Bae Seon-young made sexually harassing remarks toward player Ji So-yeon during a match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall. Ji reported that while protesting fouls, the referee used radio communication to suggest she was being “sensitive” due to her menstrual cycle. While the Korea Football Association (KFA) referee team stated that the specific word for menstruation was not used, they acknowledged that the slang term ‘Girls’ Day’ was used in the communication. Ji subsequently received a yellow card during the confrontation. Suwon FC Women has filed formal complaints with the KFA and the Women’s Football Federation, seeking a re-evaluation of the yellow card and measures to prevent recurrence. The Korea Professional Football Players Association has condemned the incident as a “serious human rights violation and an abuse of power,” calling for the referee’s removal and the establishment of an emergency committee to protect players. The KFA is expected to discuss the matter at a referee evaluation meeting on September 3. Following the incident, which caused a four-minute match delay, the referee reportedly characterized the remarks as “something we said among ourselves.” In response, the Korea Women's Football Federation announced it will review the facts and hold meetings with officials and clubs to improve refereeing standards and the league's communication culture.

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