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South Korea Complains to FIFA Over Racist Abuse of Hwang

Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan celebrates scoring against Luton Town at Molineux Stadium in April 2024 - AFP
Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan celebrates scoring against Luton Town at Molineux Stadium in April 2024 - AFP
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South Korea Complains to FIFA Over Racist Abuse of Hwang

Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan celebrates scoring against Luton Town at Molineux Stadium in April 2024 - AFP
Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan celebrates scoring against Luton Town at Molineux Stadium in April 2024 - AFP

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.

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, AFP reported.

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.

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Buoyant Hamilton Seeking to Keep Momentum and More Records

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 7, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP)
Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 7, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP)
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Buoyant Hamilton Seeking to Keep Momentum and More Records

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 7, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP)
Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 7, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP)

A buoyant Lewis Hamilton heads into this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix on the crest of a wave, seeking a record-increasing ninth Hungaroring victory and Mercedes' third consecutive win of the season.
After two years of struggles, Hamilton ended his long winless run at the British Grand Prix with a record ninth home triumph at Silverstone and hopes to repeat that feat in forecast intense heat at the track where last year he secured his most recent pole position, AFP said.
Following his emotional success in front of an adoring crowd in the English rain, Hamilton said he felt excited at the prospect of returning to a track where he has scored several memorable victories in his career.
"I love Hungary," he said. "And so I am definitely looking forward to going there. The trajectory we're now on and the fact that the car is starting to really, really come alive and feel great. I can't wait."
The 39-year-old seven-time world champion won at the Hungaroring -- a tight, twisty and often dusty circuit 22 kilometers north of Budapest -- in his debut season for McLaren in 2007 and again in 2009 and 2012.
After switching to Mercedes, he continued to relish the unique challenge of a track often described as 'Monaco without the walls' and won again in 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
If he secures a podium finish this Sunday, it will be the 200th of his career, a pole position would be a record-extending 10th, landmark achievements that set him apart as he bids to add to team-mate George Russell's victory in Austria and his own in Britain.
He and Russell know, however, that they will not be favorites despite their recent successes as defending three-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull bids to complete a hat-trick of Hungarian wins after triumphs in 2022 and last year.
"Last year was brilliant," said Verstappen. "I have good memories of racing here and last year achieved our 12th win in a row. So, hopefully, we can have a great race again."
Midway point
The Dutchman leads the title race by 84 points ahead of nearest rival and friend Lando Norris of McLaren as the season crosses the midway point after 12 of the scheduled 24 races.
Team boss Christian Horner expects a close scrap.
"It's going to be interesting to see how we perform there," he said.
"It could be very hot and I think it will be the usual people who are quick at the moment and it will be very, very close again."
That suggests Horner considers Red Bull will be fighting with McLaren and Mercedes on recent evidence, but with Ferrari likely to return to form on a tighter circuit –- not unlike Monaco where Charles Leclerc gained an emotional home win in May.
With the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps following immediately, within a week, the double-header offers an opportunity for teams to make a telling impact before Formula One takes its annual 'summer shutdown' during August.
This will translate as more pressure for struggling Sergio Perez of Red Bull who is hoping to escape a nightmare run having scored only 15 points in his last six outings since agreeing a new contract.
Ferrari are also in need of a solid result from Leclerc but have struggled with a recent upgrade package that failed.
"When you're at the sharp end, it's all marginal gains," said Horner. "Mercedes were very quick at Silverstone, took pole and the front row and then executed a good race... at least Lewis did."
His Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff admitted: "We have momentum and gained headline results in Austria and at Silverstone, but we don't yet have a car to challenge for victories every weekend.
"The Hungaroring is very different in character to the last two circuits. We will focus on doing the best we can and hope to maintain our trajectory."