Football Italia
·20 July 2024
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·20 July 2024
The Korea Football Association has formally complained to FIFA after Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan was allegedly racially abused by a Como player.
In a pre-season friendly in Marbella, Spain on Monday, the 28-year-old forward reported being targeted by a racist remark from an unnamed Como player, sparking fury on the pitch. Wolves’ Daniel Podence was sent off after seemingly throwing a punch in the aftermath.
Como released a statement on Tuesday responding to the incident, failing to quell the controversy after suggesting that the incident had been blown out of proportion. One of the players for the club reportedly said about Hwang Hee-chan: ‘Ignore him, he thinks he’s Jackie Chan’.
BBC Sport highlights how the Korean FA have now written a letter of complaint to FIFA, frustrated after UEFA’s claims that they had no power to investigate due to the fact that it wasn’t an officially sanctioned match.
The 28-year-old and his club Wolves insist that the remark was racist and are in the process of formalising their complaint alongside the English FA.
The Korean FA released a statement alongside their complaint, laying out their reasons for the move.
“In an official letter sent to FIFA on July 18, the Korea Football Association expressed serious concern about the racist behaviour suffered by Hwang Hee-chan from an opposing team player during a recent practice match, and issued a call to prevent racial discrimination occurring on the soccer field.
“In order to eradicate it, we asked FIFA to further strengthen sanctions against perpetrators.”