《The School Sports Promotion Association and Sports Donga operate the ‘2023 Student Sports Reporters’ to revitalize school sports. The student sports reporters, selected through a public contest for middle and high school students, cover and introduce news related to various school sports activities and general sports. Through this, we will increase students’ interest in sports activities and take the lead in creating a healthy and vibrant school sports culture.”
Recently, the soccer world at home and abroad has been engulfed in a storm due to controversy over racial discrimination. In the meantime, the International Football Federation and soccer associations of each country are actively coping with campaigns to eradicate racial discrimination and preparing strong punishment standards, but deep-rooted racism continues. Gradually, as time passes, there is no room for improvement, and the level of discriminatory acts and remarks is increasing, which is shocking.
Son Heung-min (Tottenham), who is playing in the English Premier League (EPL), suffered from racial discrimination for the past four years. Some fans mocked Ayu-na, saying, “You have small yellow eyes, eat dog meat,” and made extreme racial discrimination by making a ‘gesture of tearing out your eyes’ because of her different appearance.
At the time, the England Football Association (FA) said, “We strongly condemn racism towards Son Heung-min,” and banned the fans from entering the stadium indefinitely.
Since then, within the EPL, campaigns to condemn racism, such as ‘kneeling campaign’ and ‘No room For racism’ (anti-racism) patch attachment, have been continuously carried out, but they have not achieved any significant effect.
Recently, for the first time in the history of professional soccer K-League, a reward and punishment committee was opened in relation to racial discrimination to discipline the players concerned.
In June, Jung Seung-hyun, Park Yong-woo, and Lee Kyu-seong of Ulsan Hyundai became controversial by posting racially discriminatory comments on social media, such as “Southeast Asian Quarter is strong” and “Sasarak form is crazy”, alluding to Lee Myung-jae’s dark skin. They refer to the real name of Sasalak Hiprakorn, a player from Thailand who played for Jeonbuk Hyundai in 2021, and liken black skin to Southeast Asians. As the controversy grew, Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo lowered his head.
In the professional football K-League, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, the first committee on racial discrimination was held.스포츠토토
The Korea Professional Football Federation’s Reward and Punishment Committee imposed a fine of 15 million won and a one-game suspension on Lee Myung-jae, Lee Gyu-seong, and Park Yong-woo of the K-League 1 Ulsan Hyundai for causing controversy. A penalty of 30 million won was also imposed on the Ulsan club.
Nam Ga-hee Sports Donga student reporter (Sangmyung University Affiliated Girls’ High School 2)