London Olympics: row over S Korea 'political celebration'

[Jazzy]

The International Olympic Committee has told South Korea to bar one of its footballers from the bronze medal ceremony after he held up a political message after the team beat Japan.



The slogan was said to refer to a long-running dispute about islands which both South Korea and Japan claim.



The IOC says it is holding an inquiry.



Friday's match came hours after South Korea's president visited the islands, known as Dokdo in South Korea and as Takeshima in Japan, sparking a row.



The move prompted Japan to recall its ambassador in Seoul.



South Korea won the Olympic football bronze medal by beating Japan 2-0.



The IOC says that after the game, a player was photographed brandishing a sign allegedly asserting South Korea's sovereignty over the islands.



The committee urged the South Korean Olympic committee to take swift action on this issue and said the player should not be present at the medal ceremony on Saturday.



Football's governing body, Fifa, said it had opened a separate investigation to discipline the player.



A Korean Football Association official later named him as Park Jong-woo, 23.



The statutes of both the IOC and Fifa prohibit political statements by athletes and players.

Source



What the heck do they need to investigate?

 

[DrLeftover]

It's the IOC and FIFA.... they need to investigate a couple of cocktail waitresses and what movie is playing in first class on Korean Air, and how much they can bilk out of various sponsors and supporters for about three months.



Then they'll say, Oh, yeah, Jung-woo shouldn't have done that. He won't be allowed to play in Rio in '16.

 

[Evil Eye]

Sounds like a nice job to me.

 

[DrLeftover]

Probably an excellent job.



But I don't think either of us would like the application process as it most likely involves.... well, you know, with politicians.

 

[Evil Eye]

Yes, it might not be worth it in the long run.