An Uzbekistan U-22 football player has been banned for a year for punching a South Korean opponent in the head, the Uzbekistan Football Federation (UFF) says.
“Navbahor football club player Tohir Shamsiddinov has been barred from playing for the Uzbekistan national team and banned from all football-related activities for one year for his violent conduct against a Korean player during the King’s Cup tournament in Thailand,” the UFF said on its website.
The player punched Korea’s Sim Sang-min three times in the head, drawing international criticism.
The UFF also said it would sack its youth team head coach.
“The Uzbekistan Football Federation has parted company this evening with Shuhrat Maqsudov following the violent behavior of the Uzbekistan Olympic team against Korea in the King’s Cup in Thailand,” the UFF said.
Another Uzbek player, Jaloliddin Masharipov, avoided punishment for an acrobatic kick to the head of South Korea’s Kang Sang-woo.