South Korea’s football association provided sexual services to about 10 overseas referees, including Japanese officials, according to an allegation by leading South Korean broadcaster MBC citing a 2016 audit report by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Seoul based MBC said the referees officiated seven matches in South Korea between 2011 and 2012, including World Cup qualifiers in which the South Korean national team played. One Japanese referee involved is currently a senior member of the Japan Football Association’s Referees Committee, it said.

The officials received massages at parlours in Seoul, Ulsan and other cities, with the sessions paid for using corporate credit cards issued by the Korea Football Association, according to MBC. The story has also made headlines in neighbouring Japan with Kyodo News also picking up the story.

Of four Japanese match officials at a 2012 World Cup Asian third-round qualifier between South Korea and Kuwait, two received the massages, MBC said. South Korea won the game 2-0 to secure a place in the final round.

The audit report said three of the seven matches were World Cup or Olympic qualifiers. The other four were listed as friendlies.

The allegations concern conduct involving foreign match officials during the 2011-12 period and were reported by MBC based on the 2016 government audit.