'Greatly insulted': Football club gets record fine for sex doll gaffe
South Korea's K League said on Wednesday its disciplinary committee will impose a record 100 million won ($A124,000) fine on FC Seoul for using sex dolls instead of mannequins to fill empty seats in their stadium.
The club placed dolls in seats during a K League match on Sunday to make up for the absence of fans due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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"The disciplinary committee decided to take heavy disciplinary action considering the graveness of the incident, caused by the 'real doll', that has greatly insulted and hurt female and family fans and to prevent similar incidents going forward," K League said in a statement on Wednesday.
The club apologised on Monday saying they had failed to check the consignment sent by the supplier, though adding it was not aware the dolls were "adult products".
Though the incident was not intended, it was possible to distinguish the dolls from ordinary mannequins and the club has made a serious mistake by not removing them when it had enough time before the game started, K League added.
Some of the dolls had been dressed in the club's kit while others were holding supportive placards.
Fans watching the match on television took to social media to raise doubts about the inflatable spectators.
FC Seoul sex doll ‘error’ leaves fans shocked
FC Seoul blamed the supplier for the mishap, claiming they were assured the dolls weren’t the type used for X-rated purposes.
South Korean media Sports Seoul reportedly said: “There are concerns this will bring international disgrace.”
While fans were equally shocked on social media.
“FC Seoul put these mannequin supporters in stands which was also tried by Dinamo Brest,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“But there is a strong conviction that these ‘fans’ are actually ‘sex dolls’ made by a sex doll company.
“Hope it is not true, but if it is, it’ll be a huge shame.”
Another wrote: “Seriously, though. Imagine the thought process involved in filling your stadium with female sex dolls in football kits and thinking it’s a good idea. Nice one, @FCSeoul.”