South Korean club fined for filling empty stadium with sex dolls

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South Korean club FC Seoul have been fined 100 million Won ($82,000) for "damaging the prestige and integrity" of the K League by using sex dolls to fill their empty stadium this past weekend, according to Reuters.

With fans unable to attend matches due to the coronavirus pandemic, FC Seoul placed between 20 and 30 dolls in the stands ahead of their victory over Gwangju FC on Sunday.

Television viewers pointed out that they were sex dolls, not simply mannequins, and that some were holding placards bearing advertisements for an adult toy manufacturer.

Inappropriate or sexual advertisements are banned by the K League.

The club said earlier this week that it was "very sorry" for the mishap.

"Our intention was to do something lighthearted in these difficult times. We will think hard about what we need to do to ensure that something like this never happens again," FC Seoul noted in a statement.

"These mannequins may have been made to look and feel like real humans but they are not for sexual use - as confirmed by the manufacturer from the beginning."