South Korean football team FC Seoul have apologised after mannequins they used to fill up empty stands turned out to be sex dolls.
It came as the K-League club substituted fans during a match at the weekend as the stands are currently off-limits due to COVID-19. The team itself admitted that the dolls had been ordered inadvertently after a ‘misunderstanding’ with the supplier.
Just this month, the K-League became the first major football league to hold matches since the beginning of the worldwide pandemic, only for it to backfire once social media users noticed the sex dolls during Sunday’s match between Gwangju FC and FC Seoul.
Blaming the situation as a mix up, the team also stated that they had checked with the supplier and received assurances that the dolls were not intended for any sexual reason or use.
It was also claimed that some of the dolls were holding placards promoting a local adult shop.
FC Seoul took to Instagram stating a formal apology to fans worldwide: “We are deeply sorry about the mannequins that were seated during the May 17, 2020 match.
“However, we would like to clarify that while these mannequins have been made to look and feel like real humans, they are not for sexual use – as confirmed by the manufacturer.
The supplier “claimed they are clothing mannequins,” the club added, insisting they had “double- [and] triple-checked that they are not for sexual use.”
The Sports Seoul website said that with the increase of fans overseas which are now following K-League matches, “there are concerns this will bring international disgrace.”