South Korea’s FC Seoul have fined a record 100 million won ($81,000) for using sex dolls in the absence of fans due to COVID-19 behind close.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the world went on hold as ativities were all halted. The sporting industry like any other industry has been deeply affected. With almost three months since soccer leagues went on break, some leagues have now resumed and amongst those is the Korean League which recently resumed after the unprecedented lockdown.
The game which has always been animated by the presence of fans in the stands has now returned without them, and this will be so for quite some time, but who knows how long?
To improvise and keep their players motivated, Korean soccer club – FC Seoul went an extra mile to adopt sex toys as their new fans, at least for the time being. Bringing sex toys to the stands has been considered disrespectful by the officials of the League. The K-League (Korean League) officials said the club has “deeply humiliated women fans”.
Following Sunday’s game after returning to action, FC Seoul came under scrutiny after dozens of dolls wearing T-shirts or holding placards with the logo of a sex-toy seller appeared in the stands.
The incident has made headlines around the world and after reviewing the case, the K-League accepted FC Seoul’s claim that it did not know the mannequins were sex toys, but said it “could have easily recognized their use using common sense and experience“.
The controversy over this ‘real doll’ incident has deeply humiliated and hurt women fans (and) damaged the integrity of the league,” it said in a statement late Wednesday, handing down the largest fine in its 38-year-history.
According to reports, a mannequin distributor approached the K-league offering to provide its products to fill empty stands for free, and was introduced to FC Seoul. The team said it had asked the police to investigate the provider. Clubs have used cardboard cutouts, placards and banners to fill up the stands, but fans were not impressed with the sex dolls.
I wonder how they even came up with this bizarre idea. This is an international disgrace,” said one online critic. Another fan added: “FC Seoul turned its stadium into a X-rated zone.”
Fans reaction to the action by the club has left alot of question marks and after accepting to pay the fine, they will have to suffer it to be so for now without fans.
