Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Mauricio Taricco has been hit with a significant five-match ban and a hefty fine after making a racially offensive gesture during a South Korean football match.
The Incident That Sparked Outrage
The controversy unfolded on November 8 during a K-League match between Taricco's team, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, and Daejeon Hana Citizen FC. The 52-year-old Argentine, who has held his role at Jeonbuk since 2024, became involved in a heated argument with the match official while appealing for a penalty for his side.
During the clash, which Jeonbuk ultimately won 3-1, Taricco is alleged to have shouted 'racist' at the referee in Spanish before performing the widely condemned 'slanted-eye' gesture from the dugout. The referee immediately sent off the former Sunderland assistant coach.
Disciplinary Action and Taricco's Defence
Following an investigation, the K-League's disciplinary committee took decisive action. Taricco was handed a five-match suspension and a financial penalty totalling £10,336 (20,000,000 won).
In his defence, Taricco claimed in a statement that his gesture was intended to convey that the referee had not seen a handball incident. He argued that his actions were misinterpreted.
The League's Firm Stance on Racism
However, the disciplinary committee firmly rejected Taricco's explanation. In their ruling, they stated that the evaluation of such an act must be based on its universal meaning, not the perpetrator's stated intentions.
The K-League said in an official statement: 'Based on these criteria, coach Taricco's actions were identical to the widely known "slant-eye" derogatory gesture against Asians and sufficiently inflicted feelings of racial insult on the recipient.'
Taricco, who spent six years at Tottenham between 1998 and 2004 and also played for Ipswich, West Ham, and Brighton, has previously held coaching positions at AEK Athens and the Greek national team. This incident represents a major setback in his managerial career.
