Park banned 2 games for controversial ceremony

Korean football player Park Jong-woo, who raised a banner reading “Dokdo Is Our Land” in August in London received a 2-game ban from FIFA, Monday. / Korea Times file

By Kang Seung-woo

FIFA has suspended Park Jong-woo for two matches for unsportsmanlike behavior in the bronze-medal tie at the London Olympics, the Korean football governing body said Monday.

He was also slapped with a fine of 3,500 Swiss francs ($3,700).

Now, FIFA will report the decision to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and it will decide whether Park will get his medal, which has been withheld since the Aug. 10 incident.

However, with the light disciplinary action, the 23-year-old footballer is likely to clinch his long-awaited Olympic bronze.

“FIFA informed us that it would impose a two-match ban and a 3,500 Swiss franc fine. As the decision is a light punishment, we cannot appeal to FIFA,” said an official of the Korea Football Association (KFA).

The international football body said that this decision cannot be appealed against and is therefore final and binding.

According to the Korean football governing body, FIFA also reminded it of its obligation to properly instruct players.

The Busan I’Park midfielder displayed a banner that read, “Dokdo is Our Land” after Korea defeated Japan 2-0 to win its first-ever Olympic medal at Cardiff.

However, the slogan asserting Korea’s sovereignty over Dokdo to which Japan has long laid claims angered the IOC, which bans on-field political statements by athletes, and Park was told not to attend the medal ceremony at Wembley Stadium. Park had to watch his 17 teammates receive the bronze medal from the locker room and was not at a ceremony at Incheon International Airport to congratulate the team’s feat either.

The FIFA disciplinary committee discussed the Park’s case on Nov. 20 and reached a conclusion that although his act appeared not to be premeditated, his behavior contradicts the principal idea and goal of sportsmanship and fair play, and therefore, cannot be tolerated.

The KFA said it will comply with the decision.

“Park Jong-woo expressed his gratitude for fans who showed their concerns in the aftermath of the Olympics and for officials who have supported him all along,” the KFA said.

“We would like to apologize for the trouble we caused our football fans with this incident.”

The IOC has already signed off on an Olympic medal certificate for Park, but Korean officials downplayed the significance of this move, saying athletes ordinarily receive such certificate whether or not they have collected actual medals.