It is a challenge for sports leagues across the world – if play can only resume in empty stadiums, how can the atmosphere be improved?
However, not many clubs will be rushing to follow the example of FC Seoul, a South Korean soccer team.
The top-flight South Korean side has apologized after fans accused them of using sex dolls in the stands during a live game.
FC Seoul insisted they were “premium mannequins” rather than sex dolls – but did admit they came from a supplier that produces sex toys.
And some of the dolls were holding signs advertising x-rated websites – despite pornography being banned in South Korea.
What happened at the match?
On Sunday, FC Seoul played their first home match of the K League season.
The ground was empty – one of many measures designed to prevent a Covid-19 outbreak.
So before the match, a company called Dalcom offered to fill some of the empty seats, and the club agreed.
In total, there were 30 mannequins – 28 of them female, and two of them male.
However, fans watching online noticed that some of the mannequins looked more like sex dolls – and some were advertising x-rated websites – leading to the club apologizing on Instagram and Facebook.
Dalcom said the adverts came from a sex toy company who placed orders with Dalcom, and wanted to take pictures of the mannequins before the game.
“They were supposed to take all the logos down before the game started,” Dalcom director Cho Young-june told the BBC. “But there were several hairbands and logos left to be caught by public eye.”
FC Seoul official Lee Ji-hoon told the BBC it didn’t do a background check on Dalcom, and didn’t realize they worked in the sex industry.
Mr Lee admitted he thought the dolls looked “very human” – but said it didn’t even enter his mind that they could be sex toys.
