The Japan Football Association (JFA) is investigating four Japanese referees in connection with allegations that the Korea Football Association (KFA) provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees and match commissioners, Kyodo News reported on the 9th.

According to an audit of the KFA by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2016, sexual entertainment was provided to about 10 foreign referees and commissioners across seven matches held in South Korea between March 2011 and March 2012, comprising three World Cup and Olympic qualifiers and four friendly matches.

The nationalities of the refereeing crews for these matches reportedly included Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Bahrain, and Uzbekistan.

Kyodo noted that reports by South Korean media revealed allegations that two out of four Japanese referees who officiated the 2014 World Cup Asian third qualifying match between South Korea and Kuwait in 2012 had received sexual entertainment.

While most of the referees mentioned as targets of the entertainment have already retired, some of the Japanese referees are reportedly currently active as managers overseeing J.League referees within the JFA.

Kyodo News reported that the JFA plans to announce the results of its investigation into the referees suspected of receiving sexual entertainment.

(Photo: Capture from the Japan Football Association official website, Yonhap News)