Como’s Marco Curto suspended for racist abuse of Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan | Wolverhampton Wanderers

A player who racially abused Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan during a friendly match has been handed a 10-match ban by FIFA, with five matches suspended for two years.

Marco Curto, who then played for Como and is now on loan at Italian second division club Cesena, was found guilty of abusing Hwang during a friendly match in Marbella in July.

“The player Marco Curto was found responsible for discriminatory behavior and was handed a 10-match suspension,” a spokesperson for world football’s governing body said.

“Serving for half of those matches will be suspended for a two-year probationary period, and the player will be ordered to provide community services and undertake training and education with a FIFA-approved organization.”

The South Korean player’s national football association contacted FIFA in July to express “serious concerns” about the incident.

Wolves director of football operations and administration Matt Wild said after the ruling: “We welcome FIFA’s decision to sanction Marco Curto following the discriminatory incident during our pre-season friendly against Como 1907. The suspension imposed on the player sends a clear message that racism and discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated in football or in society.”

Como insisted at the time that the incident had been “blown out of proportion.” Mirwan Suwarso, a spokesman for the Italian club’s owners, said Curto told the club that he told a fellow defender: “Ignore (Hwang), he thinks he is Jackie Chan”.

“After speaking at length with our player, we are confident that this was a reference to the player’s name and to the constant references to ‘Channy’ by his own teammates on the field,” Suwarso added. “As far as our club is concerned, our player has not said anything derogatory. We are disappointed that the reaction of certain Wolves players has led to the incident being blown out of proportion.”