This photo taken Thursday shows the signboard for the Korea Football Associationoutside its headquarters in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, with police having started the raid of the KFA office earlier in the day. (Yonhap) The Korea Football Association formally apologized Saturday to football fans and officials and pledged sweeping reforms as controversies over its governance and alleged misconduct continued to mount.The association has been engulfed in a widening crisis since South Korea’s disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign.The fallout has included the first National Assembly hearing on the KFA, a police raid and newly surfaced allegations involving sexual entertainment for foreign referees and match officials more than a decade ago.The KFA’s governance and management came under scrutiny at the National Assembly hearing on July 30, which examined, among other issues, the contentious appointments of former national team coaches Hong Myung-bo and Jurgen Klinsmann.The turmoil deepened Thursday when police raided KFA offices for the first time as part of an investigation into allegations that former KFA President Chung Mong-gyu and other senior officials improperly intervened in Hong’s appointment.“We are deeply sorry for causing great disappointment and concern over the controversies surrounding the association since the 2026 World Cup,” the KFA said in a statement.The association said it had found itself in a “truly devastating situation,” having lost sight of its fundamental responsibility to bring fans joy through players’ hard work, passion and sportsmanship.“We deeply apologize for causing concern over a series of issues involving the association, from a National Assembly hearing and the unprecedented police search and seizure to reports about events from more than a decade ago that even many of our staff members were unaware of,” it said.Local broadcaster JTBC reported Thursday, citing a 2016 Culture Ministry audit, that the KFA had provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees and match officials during international matches in 2011 and 2012, with the expenses paid using corporate cards.The KFA stressed that “such improper conduct or use of corporate cards is absolutely not occurring at the association today.”The association also expressed concern that the controversies could overshadow the achievements of South Korean national team players.“We sincerely hope that this controversy will not cast doubt on or diminish the hard-earned achievements and efforts of our national team players, who have worn the South Korean flag on their chests and represented South Korean football,” it said.“Every member of the association will take the criticism directed at us from all quarters deeply to heart and use it as an opportunity for sweeping reform,” it added.The KFA pledged “deep self-reflection and intensive efforts” to build a better future for South Korean football, while improving the transparency and ethical standards of its organizational culture to meet heightened public expectations.The association also promised to press ahead with preparations for the upcoming Asian Games, international matches in the second half of the year and the Asian Cup. It said it would swiftly implement policy changes, including expanding the electorate for the KFA presidential election.“Once again, we apologize for the profound disappointment and shock we have caused to football fans in South Korea and members of the football community around the world,” it said.The KFA pledged to continue working to become an organization that inspires “cheers rather than anger, and support and praise rather than boos and criticism.”