This is the last article you can read this month
You can read more article this month
You can read more articles this month
Sorry your limit is up for this month
Reset on:
Please help support the Morning Star by subscribing here
CHILE international Diego Valdes apologised today for creating a racism controversy in South Korea before last night’s friendly game between the teams.
In a widely circulated image, the midfielder can be seen pulling the skin around his eyes back in a gesture used to insult Asians while posing with a fan on Monday.
“In relation to the photograph that has appeared on social media, it was never my intention to offend and I offer my apologies to anyone that could have been offended,” Valdes, who plays for Mexican club Monarcas Morelia, wrote online.
Chile coach Reinaldo Rueda refused to comment when asked in the media conference before the game at Suwon World Cup Stadium south of Seoul.
“This is a press conference to talk about football,” Rueda said. “I am not here to talk about things not related to football.”
It is not the first such controversy in South Korea involving South American teams. In November 2017, Colombia’s Edwin Cardona made a similar gesture to South Korea captain Ki Sung Yueng during a friendly and was banned for five games by Fifa.
