In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, it changed nearly every aspect of daily life — including the world of professional sports. With stadiums closed to the public, teams were forced to come up with creative ways to recreate the energy of a live audience. But no one expected what happened in South Korea: a football team filled their empty stadium seats with sex dolls.
A Strange Attempt to Bring Back the Crowd
With strict social distancing rules in place, the K-League — South Korea’s top-tier football league — resumed matches without live audiences. One team, FC Seoul, wanted to make their home stadium feel a bit less empty. So, they decided to fill the seats with life-sized mannequins.
From mannequins to sex dolls — a huge miscalculation
The club reportedly worked with a supplier to order realistic human figures, believing they were simply mannequins. But in an unexpected twist, the figures delivered were actually premium sex dolls from a company that specializes in adult products. Many fans quickly noticed the ultra-realistic features, the provocative facial expressions, and even adult brand logos on the dolls’ clothing.
Dressed up and seated like real fans
Wearing team jerseys and face masks, the dolls were positioned in the stands to mimic cheering supporters. Some even held signs — one of which displayed a logo linked to a known sex toy manufacturer. It didn’t take long for sharp-eyed viewers and social media users to realize something was off.
Internet Meltdown: Accident or Marketing Stunt?
The moment pictures from the stadium surfaced online, the internet exploded with reactions. Major media outlets like BBC, CNN, and The Guardian picked up the story. On Twitter and Reddit, users shared memes, jokes, and wild theories.
FC Seoul issued a public apology
The football club quickly apologized, insisting it was a misunderstanding and that they never intended to use sex dolls. They claimed the supplier mislabeled the products and that the team didn’t realize the nature of the dolls until it was too late.
Viral success even if unintentional
Regardless of the intent, the event brought global attention to the team and the K-League. Keywords like “sex dolls in stadium” and “FC Seoul scandal” trended online. Some marketing experts even speculated whether this bizarre incident might have been a clever — if risky — publicity stunt.
League Authorities Step In
While the incident may have entertained the internet, K-League officials weren’t amused. The league took swift action against FC Seoul for what they considered a breach of professionalism.
A $85,000 fine for “damaging the league’s reputation”
K-League fined the club 100 million won (around $85000), stating the incident had “deeply humiliated” the league. The punishment added fuel to the media fire, keeping the story in the headlines for days.
A Symbol of 2020’s Surreal Reality
What seemed like a silly mistake quickly turned into one of the most iconic and absurd moments of the pandemic-era sports world. But it also reflected a deeper truth — in times of crisis, even the most unconventional solutions may emerge.
When real fans aren’t allowed, fake ones step in
From virtual fans on Zoom to cardboard cutouts, sports leagues around the world explored all kinds of alternatives to real audiences. FC Seoul’s doll debacle simply took it one step further — perhaps too far.
