Amid allegations of sexual entertainment provided to referees by the Korea Football Association (KFA), Japanese media have focused intense attention on the revelation that Japanese referees were among those targeted.

Japanese media outlet Football Tribe reported that reports regarding the KFA's sexual entertainment allegations include the names of Japanese referees.

The outlet explicitly named Ryuji Sato, Yuichi Nishimura, and others as alleged beneficiaries of sexual services.

Ryuji Sato served as the referee for matches against Honduras and China held in March 2011, and currently works as a manager overseeing J.League referees for the Japan Football Association.

At the time, two assistant referees and the fourth official were all members of the Japanese refereeing crew.

Nishimura served as the referee for the Kuwait match during the third round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers held in 2012.

The outlet pointed out that if the reports by South Korean media are true, the Japan Football Association and the J.League will have no choice but to take action, adding that a reassessment of referee assignments for certain official J.League matches may become necessary.

Previously yesterday, news broke that the KFA had systematically provided sexual entertainment to foreign refereeing personnel, shocking football fans worldwide.

According to an audit of the KFA conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2016, sexual entertainment was provided to around 10 individuals, including foreign referees and match commissioners, across a total of 7 matches—comprising 3 World Cup and Olympic qualifiers and 4 friendly matches—held domestically over a one-year period starting in March 2011.

In the international football community, sarcastic remarks have persistently circulated suggesting that South Korea's run to the semifinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup was thanks to "referee bribery." With the revelation that such malicious practices continued even after that period, South Korean football is expected to face inescapable international disgrace.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Lee Dain | Graphics by Yang Hyemin | Produced by SBS Digital News