FIFA Suspends Italian Footballer for Discriminatory Remark
FIFA has imposed a 10-match suspension on Italian footballer Marco Curto for making a discriminatory remark towards South Korean forward Hee Chan Hwang during a preseason friendly between Como and Wolverhampton. The incident occurred in July, with Hwang reporting the remark to the referee during the second half.
Como initially defended Curto, claiming his comment that Hwang “thinks he’s Jackie Chan” was not intended to be derogatory. However, the South Korea Football Association filed a formal complaint with FIFA, which subsequently notified Curto of his disciplinary ban on October 7, 2024.
FIFA’s statement confirmed that Curto was found responsible for discriminatory behavior and sanctioned with a 10-match suspension. The 25-year-old has since been loaned by Como to Serie B club Cesena and is set to miss five league games through November 10.
FIFA has also deferred five games of the ban for a probationary period of two years. This means that Curto could face an additional five-match suspension if he commits any further discriminatory offenses during that time.
The incident has highlighted FIFA’s commitment to combating racism and discrimination in football. Earlier this year, the governing body urged all 211 of its member federations to take a coordinated approach to prosecuting incidents of alleged racism and discrimination.
Curto’s suspension serves as a reminder that discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated in the sport. It also sends a strong message that FIFA is determined to create a more inclusive and respectful environment for all players and fans.