According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean police have determined that the statute of limitations for the alleged prostitution arrangement to the Korea Football Association’s “hospitality involving referees” scandal has expired.

An audit conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2016 confirmed that between 2011 and 2012, the Korea Football Association arranged sexual entertainment for more than 10 foreign referees, match officials and others during a total of seven matches, including three World Cup and Olympic qualifying matches and four friendly matches.

As the incident occurred approximately 15 years ago, the statute of limitations has become a major obstacle to the police investigation.

Although authorities could consider applying charges such as occupational breach of trust and violations of the Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts, under current law, cases that occurred more than 15 years ago can generally only be prosecuted if they involve serious crimes subject to longer limitation periods.

Police confirmed that in 2016, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism commissioned an investigation into the alleged sexual entertainment. Police subsequently investigated several suspects on suspicion of occupational breach of trust and forwarded the case to prosecutors in October 2017 with a recommendation for indictment.

A National Police Agency official said at a regular press briefing on the 19th: “The allegation of arranging prostitution appears to have exceeded the statute of limitations. We will check whether there is still any scope for further verification.”