South Korea lodges complaint ahead of Asian football elections

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) logo is displayed at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on March 15, 2017. (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia— On the eve of Asian football elections for the FIFA Council, South Korea complained that Qatar’s candidate has been given favorable treatment.

The South Korean football federation told the Asian Football Confederation’s election oversight panel that Qatar offered voters free trips to see games in Doha in the past week.

In a letter to panel chairman Randall Cunliffe dated Friday, seen by The Associated Press, South Korean soccer federation president Chung Mong-Gyu “urgently request(s) you to review this matter.”

South Korea canceled its invitation for voters to visit Seoul last month after Cunliffe intervened.

Chung and Qatari official Saoud Al Mohannadi are among eight candidates to fill five seats on the FIFA Council.

The Asian football body says it is reviewing the complaint.