When a teammate was racially abused, he didn’t take it lying down – he punched him in the face.
Wolverhampton Wanderers played a friendly against Italian Serie A promotion side Como 1907 on Saturday (June 16). The result was a 1-0 victory for Wolverhampton.
But it wasn’t all smiles. After the game, Wolverhampton manager Gary O’Neill said: “It should never have happened. I’m disappointed that we’re talking about racism now and that it ruined the game.”
Here’s the situation. Hwang Hee-chan, who started the game, heard a racial slur from an opposing defender. His teammate, Daniel Podense, didn’t take it well.
He punched the player who made the racist remark. He was promptly ejected.
Coach O’Neill says, “We heard Hwang make a racist comment to an opponent during the game. We approached him and asked him if he wanted to rest or play. She was discouraged (by the racism), but she kept playing and committed to the team. I am proud of her. We fully support her,” said Hwang.
Wolverhampton have publicly protested. “We understand what happened in Como and we intend to lodge a formal complaint with UEFA. We will not tolerate any racism,” the club said in a statement.
Korean soccer fans took notice of Podense, who fought on Hwang’s behalf. Podense is a Portuguese forward.
Born in 1995, he is one year older than Hwang, who was born in 1996. He played for Sporting and Olympiakos before moving to Wolverhampton in 2020. He spent last season on loan at Olympiakos.
Podense has become a “loyalist” among Korean soccer fans. Hwang Hee-chan also expressed his gratitude.
On Sunday, he took to social media to thank his teammates and the club. “Racism is unacceptable in all aspects of sports and life. It is intolerable. When it happened (against Como), my coaching staff and teammates told me that I could leave the field if I needed to and they kept 카지노사이트 checking my condition,” he said. ”I want to thank my teammates once again. Despite all this, I wanted to keep playing and I did what I had to do on the field. I thank everyone for their support. I will not tolerate any racism.”
Wolverhampton have lodged a formal complaint with UEFA, but the organization has drawn a line in the sand. “All discrimination and hatred, including racism in football, is a priority for us. However, the UEFA Disciplinary Committee can only act on what happens in UEFA competitions,” the organization said, noting that it has no say in what happens in pre-season.
Hwang Hee-chan is a Wolverhampton ace. He joined Wolverhampton on loan three years ago and quickly rose to first-team status.
He left Salzburg in Austria for Leipzig in the German Bundesliga, where he struggled to compete for a starting spot, but proved his worth in the Premier League. His performances earned him a permanent move to Wolverhampton after just half a season and he recently signed a new contract until 2028. It includes an option for a one-year extension. This will keep him at Wolverhampton until 2029.
His salary has also skyrocketed. According to European soccer transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano, Hwang has signed a deal that puts him on par with the club’s highest-paid players.
Wolverhampton’s Director of Sport Matt Hobbs said: “Hwang has given everything for the club. The fans are now rewarding him for his performances on the pitch. He’s scoring goals. That’s important for Coach O’Neill’s team,” said Hobbs.
“Performance is always important in making decisions like this. But Hwang loves this team and loves the fans. That’s the kind of attitude that works really well with us.”
In the past, Hwang has been plagued by frequent muscle injuries, but in 2023-24, a combination of strict injury management and a move to the front of the side allowed him to flourish. In his third season in the Premier League, he recorded double-digit Premier League offensive points for the first time in his career with 12 goals and three assists in 29 games.
He was the top scorer on the Wolverhampton team. Including League Cup goals, he had 13 goals and three assists in all competitions. His performances as Wolverhampton’s ace have boosted his stock.
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