Coach Park Hang-seo Gets Two-Match Ban, Fine for Response to Racist "Kimchi Man" Taunts

Football Association of Thailand: "Coach Park's response to spectators was inappropriate"
Spectators who made racist remarks also fined 20,000 baht

Park Hang-seo, head coach of Kanchanaburi Power FC, a second-division professional soccer club in Thailand, was subjected to racist remarks from opposing fans. He has been suspended and fined for responding inappropriately.

The Football Association of Thailand said on November 12 that its Disciplinary and Ethics Committee met on November 10 and handed Park a two-match suspension and a fine of 13,333 baht (about 530,000 won). The standard fine is 20,000 baht, but it was reduced by one-third under a provision for second-division clubs.

Coach Park Hang-seo. Yonhap News.

Park clashed with opposing fans after a 2-2 draw against Pattaya United in an away match in the 2026-2027 Thai League 2 season at Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand, on November 1. Some spectators believed to be Pattaya fans reportedly repeatedly shouted "Kimchi man" at Park, mixed with profanity, and made insulting remarks about the height of John Baggio, a midfielder from Madagascar.

At first, Park put a finger to his lips to tell them to "be quiet." When the taunting continued, he responded forcefully, miming a punch and shouting for them to "come down here."

Park's management agency, DJ Management, issued a statement saying, "We protested because spectators repeatedly swore at Baggio and made derogatory remarks about his appearance. They also used the racist term 'monkey.'" Its written statement to the Football Association of Thailand also said, "He directly witnessed insulting behavior directed at a player and protested in an effort to stop it."

The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee acknowledged that Pattaya fans had engaged in racist behavior but ruled that Park's response was inappropriate. The association said, "It is acceptable to act to protect a player, but the manner of expression must be appropriate and mature, and must not provoke further conflict." It also noted, "As Park had already been suspended for the match in question, he should have acted with greater caution at the stadium and should not have been in areas related to the match." The spectator who made the racist remarks was fined 20,000 baht.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.