By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – FIFA is still undecided over what action to take over Park Jong-Woo, the South Korean footballer who was banned from receiving his Olympic bronze medal for displaying a political message at London 2012.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) says FIFA’s legal affairs department has requested additional information about the case by October 27.
The midfielder was barred from the Olympic podium ceremony at Wembley Stadium following South Korea’s 2-0 bronze medal win over Japan a few days earlier when he displayed a sign saying “Dokdo is our territory”, referring to a territorial dispute between the Asian neighbours.
A meeting of FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee on October 5 failed to determine whether Park violated International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations banning political, religious or racial statements by athletes and players.
“Since the case is unprecedented, it appears that FIFA is handling the matter cautiously,” a KFA official was quoted as saying.
The IOC has withheld Park’s medal since August 10, but Korean officials insist Park’s action was not premeditated and that he was handed the sign by a spectator after the match.
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