Italian soccer player Marco Curto has been banned by FIFA for 10 games due to a discriminatory remark he made towards South Korea forward Hee Chan Hwang during a preseason game between Como and Wolverhampton. The 25-year-old Curto will also have to perform community service, undergo training, and education with an organization approved by FIFA.
After the incident in July, Como defended Curto by claiming that the remark made towards Hwang, stating that “he thinks he’s Jackie Chan,” was not meant to be derogatory. However, Hwang reported the discriminatory behavior during the second half of the game, which resulted in angry reactions from his teammates, including Daniel Podence, who was sent off for punching a Como player.
Following a formal complaint filed by the South Korea Football Association, FIFA announced the 10-game suspension for Curto. The player has been loaned from top-tier Como to Serie B club Cesena and is expected to miss five league games until November 10th. FIFA has deferred five games of the ban for a probationary period of two years.
In an effort to address incidents of alleged racism and discrimination, FIFA encouraged all 211 member federations to adopt a coordinated approach to prosecuting such behavior. It is crucial for the football community to take a stand against discrimination and promote inclusivity and respect for all players, regardless of their background or nationality.
