The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Thursday it has opened an investigation into a South Korean footballer who displayed a controversial sign while celebrating the country’s bronze medal at the London Olympics.

On its Web site, the IOC said it has formed a Disciplinary Commission to investigate the case of Park Jong-woo. After South Korea beat Japan 2-0 to claim the bronze medal, the 23-year-old midfielder celebrated with a sign that read, in Korean, “Dokdo Is Our Territory.” It was in support of South Korea‘s sovereignty over its easternmost islets, to which Japan has also laid claims for years. Dokdo has long been a source of diplomatic tensions between the neighbors.

Park has yet to collect his bronze medal. FIFA, the international governing body of football, on Monday suspended Park for two matches and fined him 3,500 Swiss francs (US$3,780) for his “unsporting behavior.” The IOC will decide whether to award Park his medal based on FIFA’s disciplinary ruling.

“Regarding the case of South Korean footballer Park Jong-woo, whose bronze medal was withheld by the IOC after an alleged political statement following his team‘s match against Japan at the London 2012 Games, the Executive Board decided to set up a Disciplinary Commission to look into the matter, based on the recent decision by FIFA to ban the player from international competition for two games,” the IOC said on its Web site.

The IOC’s Olympic Charter prohibits any display of political statements by participating athletes, coaches and even fans.

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

FIFA said its decision is “final and binding,” and can‘t be appealed. The Korea Football Association (KFA), the local governing body, was also warned by FIFA for failing to instruct players on rules of conduct. The KFA said it would humbly accept FIFA’s decision and it would prevent incidents of a similar nature from occurring again.

Park was an integral part of South Korea‘s bronze medal-winning team in London and has appeared in two of the country’s past four international matches since the end of the Olympics. (Yonhap News)



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'독도세리머니' 징계위, 동메달 운명은?


국제올림픽위원회(IOC)가 박종우의 ‘독도 세리머니’에 대한 심의에 착수했다.

6일 AP통신에 따르면 자크 로게 IOC 위원장은 박종우의 이 사건을 심의해 제재를 확정할 징계위원회를 구성했다고 말했다.

박종우는 8월 11일 영국 웨일스 카디프의 밀레니엄경기장에서 열린 일본과의 런던올림픽 남자축구 3-4위전에서 승리하자 ‘독도는 우리 땅’이라고 적힌 플래카드를 펼쳐보였다.

IOC는 이 세리머니가 올림픽 헌장을 위반한 소지가 있다며 시상식에서 박종우에 대한 동메달 수여를 보류했다.

국제축구연맹(FIFA)은 독도 세리머니를 자체 징계규정과 올림픽 대회규정을 위반한 정치적 시위로 보고 박종우에게 2경기 출전정지와 벌금 3천500 스위스프랑의 비교적 가벼운 제재를 내렸다.

IOC는 FIFA의 조사 결과와 제재 수위를 참고해 박종우의 동메달을 박탈할지 결정하기로 했다.

제재가 그대로 굳어질 수도 있고 재조사 지시가 나올 수도 있다.

IOC는 FIFA의 보고서를 토대로 자체 징계의 수위를 결정하겠다는 입장인 것으로 알려졌다. 따라서 IOC가 박종우의 동메달을 취소하는 일은 없을 것이라는 관측이 축구계 안팎에서 나오고 있다.

FIFA는 제재 결정문에서 “박종우가 세리머니를 기획하거나 의도하지는 않은 것으로 판단하지만 스포츠맨십과 페어플레이의 기본을 저해하는 까닭에 묵과할 수는 없다”고 밝혔다. (연합뉴스)