[Official Statement] Coach Park Hang-seo’s “true reason” for his outburst at spectators… “Racial slur of ‘monkey’ directed at my player”

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Coach Park Hang-seo, who had a confrontation with opposing team fans after a Thai professional football match, revealed his stance on the incident at the time. The direct reason for Coach Park’s anger was not the racist remarks directed at himself, but rather the continuous verbal abuse and discriminatory behavior aimed at one of his players.

Coach Park Hang-seo’s agency, DJ Management, explained the incident that occurred after the conclusion of the match between Thai Patai United and Kanchanaburi Power FC on the 6th through an official statement.

The agency stated, “Reports have continued to emerge from various countries, including Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam, regarding this incident,” adding, “We are conveying the situation at the time and Coach Park’s stance based on the official explanation submitted by Coach Park Hang-seo and player John Vazho to the Football Association of Thailand.”

Previously, Kanchanaburi, led by Coach Park, drew 2-2 in an away match against Thai Patai United in the second division of the 2026–2027 Thai professional football league, held at Nong Prue Stadium in Patai, Thailand, on the 1st.

The problem arose after the match ended. Coach Park got into a heated argument with some spectators while heading to the locker room.

At the time, local Thai media outlets such as Kaosod reported that some spectators hurled insults and the derogatory term “kimchi man” at Coach Park, which disparages Koreans.

Coach Park initially made a gesture of placing his finger to his lips, asking for silence. However, as the spectators’ provocation continued, he showed an agitated reaction, and officials intervened to stop both sides, preventing physical confrontation.

As this scene spread through social media and other channels, the controversy grew. In particular, attention focused on the fact that Coach Park had confronted spectators out of anger over racist remarks directed at himself.

However, according to the agency’s recent announcement, there was a separate direct trigger for Coach Park’s protest against the spectators.

DJ Management stated, “Currently, various media outlets are focusing on the content that Coach Park Hang-seo showed an agitated reaction after hearing racist remarks from opposing team fans,” emphasizing, “However, there is important information about this incident that should be known together.”

The agency continued, “The direct trigger for Coach Park Hang-seo’s protest to the spectators at the time was not the insult directed at himself, but the continuous verbal abuse and discriminatory behavior inflicted upon his player, John Vazho.”

It is reported that the racist expressions directed at Vazho even included the word “monkey.”

The agency conveyed, “According to player John Vazho’s statement, some opposing team fans continued to hurl insults and make remarks disparaging his appearance toward the player from during the match,” adding, “This behavior continued even as he moved to the locker room after the match ended, and among it was included the racist expression ‘monkey.’”

Coach Park also witnessed this situation directly. The agency stated, “Coach Park Hang-seo also revealed in his statement that he directly witnessed the insulting behavior directed at the player at the time and protested to the spectators to stop it,” explaining, “In the process, insulting remarks targeting his Korean nationality were also directed at Coach Park himself, and the situation became even more heated.”

According to the agency’s explanation, in the course of protesting to the spectators to protect his player, Coach Park himself was subjected to racist insults, and the situation escalated.

The agency emphasized that Coach Park is well aware of the responsibility to control his emotions as a coach.

Nevertheless, it stated, “However, he witnessed continuous personal insults and discriminatory behavior directed at his player at the time and protested to the spectators to stop it,” adding, “He did not turn a blind eye to the situation where his player was subjected to unjust insults, but sought to fulfill his responsibility as a coach who must protect his players.”

Coach Park’s long-standing nickname, “Papa Park,” was also mentioned. The agency stated, “To Vietnamese football fans, Coach Park Hang-seo has been called by the affectionate name ‘Papa Park’ for a long time,” explaining, “Coach Park has valued not only coaching players but also ensuring that players are respected both on and off the field. This incident is also not unrelated to such responsibility as a coach.”

It continued, “He emphasized that he hopes people will understand together what situation his player was in before this incident, and why he protested to the spectators, rather than it being known only as racist insults directed at himself and an emotional response to them.”

However, Coach Park also conveyed that he respects Thai football and Thai fans, and does not want this incident to lead to a negative view of Thai football as a whole.

Currently, the Football Association of Thailand has launched an investigation into this incident. The Football Association of Thailand previously stated its stance of collecting relevant materials and reviewing disciplinary procedures after the controversy over racism arose.

DJ Management conveyed, “Since the Football Association of Thailand is currently reviewing the relevant matter, we hope that the situation at the time and the course of the incident will be sufficiently confirmed through the related procedures scheduled for November 10.”

Finally, it emphasized, “Coach Park Hang-seo will continue to be faithful to his role as the coach of Kanchanaburi Power FC and will do his best together with his players in the future.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original