Como player slapped with 10-GAME ban by FIFA after racially abusing Wolves star Hwang Hee-chan in a pre-season friendly
- The incident took place during a practice match in Marbella in July
- Hwang Hee-chan has endured a difficult start to the campaign with Wolves
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A Como player has been handed a heavy ban by FIFA after being found guilty of racially abusing Wolves star Hwang Hee-chan during a pre-season friendly.
In July, Wolves faced the Italian side in Marbella when the match was marred by discriminatory behavior from Como’s Marco Curto.
Following the event, Wolves had sought the FA’s assistance in filing a formal complaint against the abuse, with UEFA unable to act as it was an unofficial match outside their jurisdiction. The South Korean federation also contacted FIFA to express their own concerns.
Yet Como published a statement of their own which appeared to suggest Wolves had placed undue importance on the alleged incident – despite admitting one of their players had called Hwang ‘Jackie Chan’.
However, the Italian has now been found guilty and has been given a ten-match ban, five of which will be for two years.
Marco Curto has been handed a 10-match suspension for racist abuse of Wolves player Hwang Hee-chan.
The incident took place during a practice match in Marbella in July, which ended with Daniel Podence being sent off
Como admitted one of their players called Hwang ‘Jackie Chan’ but claimed the reactions from Wolves players saw the incident ‘blown out of proportion’
“The player Marco Curto was found responsible for discriminatory behavior and punished with a 10-match ban,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
‘Serving of half of those matches will be suspended for a two-year probationary period, and the player will be ordered to provide community services and undertake training and education with a FIFA-approved organisation.’
Premier League Director of Football Matt Wild added: “We welcome FIFA’s decision to sanction Marco Curto following the discriminatory incident during our friendly against Como 1907.
“The suspension imposed on the player sends a clear message that racism and discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated in football and in society.”
The friendly came to an unceremonious end after the event, with Wolves striker Daniel Podence being sent off in the scuffle that followed and the events condemned by Wolves boss Gary O’Neil.
O’Neil said: ‘Channy heard a racist comment, which is very disappointing. He is of course very disappointed, and that is understandable.’
At the time, Como – now managed by Cesc Fabregas – appeared to suggest Wolves’ response was unreasonable, claiming it had been ‘blown out of proportion’.
“Our club does not tolerate racism and condemns all forms of it in the strongest possible way,” said Mirwan Suwarso, a representative of Como’s owners.
The forward has had a difficult start to the season without a goal in the Premier League
Wolves beat Como 1-0 in Marbella but the match was overshadowed by an incident of racist abuse
South Korea international Hwang, 28, has been a Wolves player since joining in August 2021
‘We have spoken to the defender in question to understand what was said.
“He told us that the comment he made to his fellow defender was: ‘Ignore him, he thinks he’s Jackie Chan.’
‘Having spoken to our player at length, we are confident that this was a reference to the player’s name and to the constant references to ‘Channy’ by his own teammates on the pitch.
‘As far as our club is concerned, our player has not said anything derogatory. We are disappointed that the reaction of certain Wolves players has led to the incident being blown out of proportion.”
Hwang has had a quiet start to the season for Wolves, with no goals in any of his six Premier League appearances, while his side have struggled for form early on with just one draw from seven games.