Reports said the Japan Football Association is investigating four Japanese referees who took part in the match at the time in connection with allegations that the Korea Football Association provided so-called "sex entertainment" to foreign referees and match inspectors.
On the 9th (local time), Kyodo News, citing Korean media reports, said two of the four Japanese referees in the 2012 World Cup Asian third-round qualifier between Korea and Kuwait were identified as having received sex entertainment.
Earlier, according to an audit of the Korea Football Association conducted in 2016 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, from March 2011 to March 2012, sex entertainment was provided to more than 10 people, including foreign referees and inspectors, across seven matches held in Korea—three World Cup and Olympic qualifiers and four friendlies.
The officiating crews for those matches were said to include nationals of Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Bahrain and Uzbekistan.
Most of the referees mentioned as having been entertained at the time have retired, but some Japanese referees are reportedly now working as managers overseeing J.League referees at the Japan Football Association.
Kyodo News said, "The Japan Football Association plans to release the results after completing its investigation into the allegations."