"No further comments": Japanese Shim Pan-wi (Director) says "Association's response is all there is" amid allegations of sexual favors to referees

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korea Football Association stated that the Japan Football Association Shim Pan-wi (Director) said it has "no further comments" regarding allegations that it provided sexual favors to foreign referees in the past. This follows the Japan Football Association's denial after its own investigation found no evidence of such acts, with Shim Pan-wi (Director) also effectively choosing silence.

According to Japanese media outlets including Chunichi Sports, Tokyo Sports, and Nikkan Sports on the 9th, Kenji Ogiiya, Shim Pan-wi (Director) of the Japan Football Association, stated that "the Japan Football Association's official response was already explained by former Executive Director Kazuyuki Yukawa during a previous board meeting" regarding allegations of sexual favors involving the Korea Football Association, including Japanese referees.

Ogiiya Shim Pan-wi (Director) added, "I have no additional explanations or responses to provide. There is nothing I can say on this matter here. The response from Yoo Ka-wa (EVP) covers everything, and I have no further comments." These remarks by Oh Gi-ya (Chairman) were simultaneously reported across major Japanese media outlets.

Last month, the Japan Football Association announced the results of its own investigation into allegations that its referees received sexual favors from the Korea Football Association, stating "there is no evidence that such favors were provided." At that time, the association investigated seven Japanese referees who had officiated Korean matches during the period mentioned in domestic reports. Six were interviewed in person, and one was confirmed through written statements. Following this, Yoo Ka-wa (EVP) explained that "no evidence was found of inducements or inappropriate conduct aimed at manipulating match results as raised in media reports."

However, criticism also emerged within Japan regarding the Japan Football Association's investigation methods and conclusions. At the time, Sports Niche Anex criticized, "Concluding an investigation based solely on interviews with these referees may leave the impression that the investigation was insufficient."

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism audit, sexual favors were provided by the Korea Football Association to three referees who officiated a March 25, 2011 A-match against Honduras and an Olympic representative team evaluation match against China two days later. Additionally, two referees were involved in the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifier against Kuwait the following year. In the matches against Honduras and China, referee Ryuji Sato served as the main referee, while Tomokazu Tajiri and Shin'ya Iribe acted as assistant referees. For the Kuwait match, the team included main referee Yuichi Nishimura, two assistant referees, and one standby official, all holding Japanese nationality.

While specific facts of sexual favors directed at Japanese referees were confirmed through the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's audit of the Korea Football Association, the individuals involved have denied the allegations, the Japan Football Association has concluded its investigation, and the head of the referee community has chosen to respond with silence.

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*This content was translated by AI.