Hwang Hee-chan Breaks Silence on Como Racism Incident: "Racism is Intolerable in Sports and in All Aspects of Life"
Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Hwang Hee-chan has finally spoken out about the racist abuse he suffered during a pre-season friendly against Italian club Como. The South Korean international was the target of a racist slur from a Como player, sparking a clash between both sets of players and staff.
In a powerful statement on Instagram, Hwang said: "Racism is intolerable in sports and in all aspects of life. After the incident, the coaching staff and my teammates immediately told me that they would leave the field with me if needed, and they kept checking on my wellbeing. I am very grateful to my teammates once again. Despite of all this, I wanted to carry on and we did what we had to do on the pitch!"
Hwang’s teammate, Daniel Podence, was shown a straight red card after throwing a punch during the scuffle. Wolves reported the incident to UEFA, but the governing body later released a statement saying that the friendly did not fall under their jurisdiction.
Como released a statement of their own, claiming that their player said "ignore him [Hwang], he thinks he’s Jackie Chan" – a reference to Hwang’s name and a popular martial arts film. However, Hwang has categorically denied this, saying that the player’s words were not a joke and were clearly intended to be racist.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for stronger action to be taken against racism in football. Tottenham Hotspur star and fellow South Korea international Son Heung-min commented on Hwang’s post, saying: "By your side mate. #NoRoomForRacism."
As the football world continues to grapple with the issue of racism, it’s clear that Hwang’s words will resonate with many. "There is no room for Racism," he wrote. Let’s hope that his powerful statement will inspire change and help to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all football fans.
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