The Japan Football Association is investigating four Japanese referees in connection with allegations that the Korea Football Association provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees and match officials, Kyodo News reported Sunday.
According to a 2016 audit of the Korea Football Association by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, sexual entertainment was provided to about 10 foreign referees and match officials across seven matches held in Korea between March 2011 and March 2012 — three World Cup and Olympic qualifying matches and four friendly matches.
The officiating crews for those matches included referees from Japan, the UAE, Iran, Bahrain and Uzbekistan.
Kyodo said South Korean media reports had revealed that two of the four Japanese referees who officiated the 2012 World Cup Asian third-round qualifying match between South Korea and Kuwait were among those who received sexual entertainment.
Most of the referees named as recipients have already retired, but some of the Japanese referees are currently working as managers overseeing J-League referees at the Japan Football Association.
The Japan Football Association plans to release the findings of its investigation into the referees suspected of having received sexual entertainment.
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