Sports

South Korea football crisis: KFA apologises over sexual favours for referees as scandal deepens

Published

2 hours ago

August 12, 2026

South Korea’s football association has apologised for “various controversies” including a scandal surrounding alleged payments made for sexual favours for foreign referees.

A report by the nation’s ministry of culture, sport and tourism regarding the allegations was compiled in 2016 and made public last week after it was obtained by South Korean media organisation JTBC.

According to JTBC’s investigation, the ministry found payments totalling 5.6m won (£2,927) were made using Korea Football Association (KFA) credit cards for “sexual entertainment” at massage parlours for foreign referees visiting the country to officiate matches in the early 2010s.

They include referees who took charge of qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup and 2012 Olympic Games in London in which the South Korea national team were participating.

South Korea qualified for both tournaments.

The report concluded that KFA staff reported the expenses under false pretences, claiming the money was used for food and drink or massages.

JTBC said an official at the KFA said “it was common practice back in those days”.

In a statement posted to social media, the KFA said: “We offer our deepest apologies for the disappointment and concern caused by the various controversies.”

It listed a variety of reasons for the apology, including the team’s poor performance at the 2026 World Cup, but also referenced “media reports regarding events from over a decade ago that even many of our own staff members were unaware of”.

The statement added: “However, we wish to clearly state that such inappropriate conduct or misuse of corporate cards is absolutely not occurring at the association at present.

“Our association, which ought to bring joy and exhilaration to football fans through the fierce pursuit of goals and the fair sportsmanship that emerges in the process, has recently lost sight of its fundamental purpose and finds itself in a truly dire situation.”

Manager Hong Myung-bo and KFA president Chung Mong-gyu both resigned from their posts earlier this summer following ferocious public anger over South Korea’s performance at the World Cup, in which they did not make it out of a group featuring Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Africa.

Sports

Arsenal reignite interest in Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa

Published

40 seconds ago

August 12, 2026

qasimgillani

Arsenal are reigniting their interest in Aston Villa central defender Ezri Konsa.

Konsa, 28, is still on holiday after the World Cup and is not with the Villa squad for Wednesday’s Super Cup game against Paris St-Germain.

The Gunners’ initial summer move for Konsa did not materialise, with the London club only willing to pay in the region of £30m for the England international who is valued at £60m by Villa.

Konsa played 48 games in all competitions last season for Aston Villa, winning the Europa League.

Having successfully signed Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle, Premier League champions Arsenal have turned their attention to defence and are accelerating their interest in Konsa, whose versatility is seen favourably at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal accept they will need to significantly improve their original offer if they are to be successful in their efforts to land Konda but whether Villa are willing to let the defender leave for a fee under their valuation remains to be seen.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport the Gunners have also held exploratory talks with Tottenham over a potential move for their club captain Cristian Romero.

Spurs are thought to have no intention of selling the 28-year-old to Arsenal given the intense rivalry between the two north London clubs.

But that has not prevented Arsenal from making enquiries into what would be one of the most surprising transfers of the summer window.

A knee injury against Sunderland in April ruled Romero out for the remainder of the domestic season but he returned to be a starter for Argentina at the World Cup, where he played 70 minutes of the final defeat by Spain.

Sports

How to watch Cubs vs. Nationals: TV channel and streaming options for August 12

Published

8 minutes ago

August 12, 2026

qasimgillani

David Peterson (6-7, 5.35 ERA) gets the start for the Cubs, who are 70-50 this season and second in the NL Central. Jackson Kent (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is the expected starter for the Nationals, who are 59-62 and fourth in the NL East.

How to watch Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals

Cubs vs. Nationals odds

Favorite Moneyline: Cubs -169
Underdog Moneyline: Nationals +140
Total: 9.5
Total Over Odds: -110
Total Under Odds: -110

Injury reports

Cubs

Matt Shaw: 10 Day IL (Hand), Daniel Palencia: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Hoby Milner: 15 Day IL (Appendicitis), Gavin Hollowell: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Phil Maton: 15 Day IL (Knee), Edward Cabrera: 15 Day IL (Hamstring), Riley Martin: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Porter Hodge: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Justin Steele: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Shelby Miller: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Hunter Harvey: 60 Day IL (Tricep), Cade Horton: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Christopher Austin: 60 Day IL (Knee), Ben Brown: 60 Day IL (Neck)

Nationals

James Wood: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Drew Millas: 10 Day IL (Finger), Connelly Early: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Josiah Gray: 60 Day IL (Elbow), DJ Herz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ken Waldichuk: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Richard Lovelady: 60 Day IL (Tricep), Mitchell Parker: 60 Day IL (Elbow), PJ Poulin: 60 Day IL (Flexor)

Stats to know

Crow-Armstrong is hitting for a .285 BA, .386 OBP and .546 SLG with a 26.7% strikeout rate and a 12.2% walk rate. His OPS is .933, which ranks 2nd in MLB, and he has scored 85 runs. In 532 plate appearances, he has hit 27 home runs (9th in MLB) and driven in 72 runs (17th in MLB). Crow-Armstrong has been crafty on the base paths, recording 30 steals on 37 attempts.
In 520 plate appearances, Nico Hoerner has hit seven long balls, tallied 56 RBIs and scored 51 runs. He is batting .262/.323/.367 and has posted an 8.8% strikeout rate and a 7.5% walk rate. Hoerner has recorded 19 steals on 22 attempts.
CJ Abrams has hit 29 home runs this season, which ranks 8th in MLB. He has also tallied 91 RBIs (1st in MLB) and has scored 75 runs. In 503 plate appearances, he has recorded a .286 BA, .358 OBP and .547 SLG with an 8.3% walk rate and a 22.9% strikeout rate. He has been effective on the base paths, recording 22 steals on 27 attempts.
In 492 plate appearances, Daylen Lile has slashed .244/.295/.416 this season. He has hit 15 long balls and driven in 61 runs with a strikeout rate of 18.9% and a walk rate of 5.7%. He has stolen 11 bases on 16 attempts and has scored 60 runs.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

Sports

Rangers seek striker & ‘playing with fire’ in defence

Published

15 minutes ago

August 12, 2026

qasimgillani

Rangers are being “proactive” in seeking a new striker after Youssef Chermiti was ruled out long term, says manager Derek McInnes, who warned defensive injuries have left the club “playing with fire”.

Chermiti, 22, sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Saturday’s defeat by Hibernian, shortly after McInnes confirmed a bid had been rejected for the Portugal Under-21 cap. Galatasaray have been linked with the former Everton player.

A specialist in London will be consulted, with a possible operation next week.

Chermiti is joined on the sidelines by left-back Tuur Rommens, who has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a groin problem suffered in the same game.

McInnes, whose side will attempt to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit at home to Jagiellonia Bialystok in their Europa League third-round qualifier on Thursday, said of Chermiti: “Obviously, really disappointing for ourselves.

“Selfishly, he’s a big part of what we wanted to do this season and he’s obviously a talented boy.

“For Youssef himself, obviously he’s very young. It’ll be difficult for him to accept and understand what’s happened to him.

“The only saving grace from our point of view as a club is the fact it’s happened in a transfer window and we’ve got the opportunity to react to that.

“The plan was for Youssef to stay in. Obviously it was a big number that was reportedly bid for him. I don’t know exactly what the figure was. Obviously the club rejected that. It’s neither here nor there now, to be honest. It’s done.

“We are obviously looking at maybe strengthening that area of the pitch. We’re trying to be quite proactive with that and seeing what is available. Number nines are normally the most difficult ones to get.”