South Korean Soccer Team Apologizes for Filling Empty Stadium With Sex Dolls

FC Seoul expressed “sincere remorse” over the controversy

South Korean Soccer Team FC Seoul Substitutes Sex Dolls for Fans
Ikromjon Alibaev of FC Seoul competes for the ball with Marco Rojas of Melbourne Victory.
Getty Images

A South Korean soccer team has apologized after allegedly installing sex dolls to sit in seats at their empty stadium in an effort to pump up players on the pitch. Though FC Seoul has denied it put sex dolls in seats during a home match against Gwangju FC at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday, the club did express “sincere remorse” over the controversy in an Instagram post.

FC Seoul said the dolls — nearly all of which were female in design — in the seats at World Cup Stadium were mannequins and that it was simply attempting to add “an element of fun” by using them. Dalkom, the company that produced the mannequins, does manufacture sex dolls.

Some fans looking at photos on social media also said the dolls were holding signs promoting a local adult shop.

FC Seoul defeated Gwangju FC 1-0 on Sunday. The K-League returned to action on May 8 without spectators, and the league plans to play in empty stadiums until the risks of COVID-19 infections are lower.

In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus amongst the league’s players, handshakes, spitting and talking closely with others on the pitch has been banned. Excessive goal celebrations have also been discouraged.

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