During the match against Italian football club Como last Saturday, Hwang Hee-chan allegedly heard a racist remark from a Como player, who called the Wolves striker "Jackie Chan." Such references to the famous Hong Kong star are often interpreted as racial jokes due to stereotypical Asian portrayals.
Enraged by the remark, Hwang's teammate Daniel Castelo Podence punched the player and and was sent off the pitch with a red card
Wolves issued a statement expressing their support for Hwang, saying "Racism or discrimination in any form is completely unacceptable and should never be left unchallenged." They reportedly plan to file a complaint to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
Como denied the allegations, claiming the comment was a reference to Hwang's nick name "Channy." "Having spoken to our player at length, we are confident this was in reference to the player's name, and to the constant references of 'Channy' made by his own teammates on the pitch," the club said.
"Racism is intolerable in sports and in all aspects of life," Hwang wrote on Instagram after the incident.
This is not the first time that Korean players have encountered inappropriate remarks. Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur has also suffered from similar racist comments and insulting gestures on several occasions.
To address these incidents, the English Premier League launched a campaign called "No Room For Racism” in 2021 with aims to "eradicate racial prejudice."