By using this website you agree that we use cookies. You can find out more in the privacy policy.

The National Times - South Korea complains to FIFA over racist abuse of Hwang

South Korea complains to FIFA over racist abuse of Hwang

ECONOMY 20.07.2024
South Korea complains to FIFA over racist abuse of Hwang
South Korea complains to FIFA over racist abuse of Hwang / Photo: © AFP/File

South Korea's football association has officially complained to the world body about an alleged racist remark directed at Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan despite Italian club Como denying the accusations.

Change text size:

An unnamed Como player was accused of referring to Hwang as "Jackie Chan", a popular Hong Kong movie star known for his martial arts films, during a pre-season match in Spain on Monday.

On Tuesday, Como insisted its player "did not say anything in a derogatory manner" and "the reaction of certain Wolves players has seen the incident blown out of proportion".

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said it sent an official letter to the world body FIFA on Thursday expressing "serious concern about the racist acts suffered by Hwang Hee-chan".

The letter asked FIFA to take action and "eradicate racism on the soccer field", the association said on its official X account Thursday.

Earlier this week Hwang said on Instagram that the coaching staff and his teammates said they would leave the field with him "if needed" after the alleged abuse.

"Racism is intolerable in sports and in all aspects of life," he added, with his post attracting more than 143,500 likes.

According to Como, its unnamed player said "ignore him, he thinks he's Jackie Chan".

The Italian Club insisted the remark was in "reference to the player's name, and to the constant references of 'Channy' made by his own teammates on the pitch".

Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil said Hwang had the full support of the Wolves group.

Hwang is not the first South Korean player to experience racist attacks while playing in European leagues.

In 2021, eight men suspected of tweeting racist abuse at Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min were arrested across England and Wales.

Son said in 2022 that he faced "unimaginable" racism as a teenage footballer in Germany, and was happy to get "revenge" when South Korea knocked Germany out of the 2018 World Cup.

D.Kelly--TNT

Featured

Hezbollah in disarray after Israeli air strike kills top commanders

Hezbollah said Saturday that a second senior commander was among 16 fighters killed in an Israeli air strike on its Beirut stronghold the previous day, highlighting the scale of the blow to its military leadership.

The BYD Seal Hybrid U DM-i AWD in a practical test by journalists

With the BYD Seal Hybrid U DM-i AWD, the Chinese car brand BYD is bringing a new competitor to the European hybrid SUV market. The manufacturer BYD has obviously realised very quickly that the enthusiasm for electric cars in Europe has its limits and that our range anxiety is deeply rooted, with Germany's Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck recently announcing new tax benefits for electric cars and saying: "... we are currently preparing further tax relief for electric cars as part of the growth initiative". Despite everything, BYD is following up the all-electric version of the VW ID.4 competitor as the DM-i with its first plug-in hybrid, the BYD Seal Hybrid U DM-i in the all-wheel drive version, as the "AWD".

Ethiopians struggle with bitter pill of currency reform

In a small fashion store in Ethiopia's capital, Medanit Woldegebriel's dresses have almost doubled in price in the past two months, sending customers fleeing.

Sri Lanka votes in first poll since economic collapse

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka began voting for its next president Saturday in an effective referendum on an unpopular International Monetary Fund austerity plan enacted after the island nation's unprecedented financial crisis.

Change text size: