Racially Abused and Then Disciplined... Park Hang-seo Suspended for Two Matches After Confronting Spectator Who Shouted 'Kimchi Man'

[Financial News] Park Hang-seo, who coaches Kanchanaburi Power FC in Thailand's second-tier professional football league, has been suspended for two matches and fined for responding inappropriately to a spectator who made racist remarks toward him and a player on his team. The Football Association of Thailand acknowledged the spectator's racism but ruled that “even if the response was intended to protect a player, the way he responded was inappropriate.”
According to Yonhap News on the 12th, the Football Association of Thailand said on its website that it held a Disciplinary and Ethics Committee meeting on the 10th and imposed a two-match suspension and a fine of 13,333 baht (about 530,000 won) on Park. The standard fine under the relevant regulations is 20,000 baht (about 790,000 won), but the association applied a second-division reduction provision and imposed two-thirds of the standard fine.
On the 1st, after a 2-2 draw in an away match against Pattaya United in the ninth round of the 2026-27 Thai League 2 season at Nongprue Stadium in Thailand, Park clashed with a man believed to be a fan of the opposing team as he headed to the locker room. The man mocked Park, calling him “Kimchi Man,” and also made derogatory remarks about the appearance of Jon Baggio, a midfielder from Madagascar.
At first, Park put a finger to his lips to gesture for the man to be quiet. But as the taunting continued, Park responded forcefully, pretending to swing a fist and shouting, “Come down here and see.” Club officials and others restrained Park, preventing the incident from turning into a physical clash.
Park's management agency, DJ Management, later said, “Park protested to the spectator about the ongoing verbal abuse and derogatory comments about Baggio's appearance.” It added, “The spectator also used the racist term ‘monkey.’”
The agency went on to explain, “Park directly witnessed the insulting remarks directed at the player and included in his written statement (submitted to the Football Association of Thailand) that he had protested to the spectator to stop them.” It added, “He wanted to fulfill his responsibility as a coach to protect the player.”
However, the Thai association's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee ruled, “It is acceptable to act to protect a player, but the manner of expression must be appropriate and mature and must not cause further conflict.”
It also noted, “Park had already been suspended for that match, so he should have acted with greater caution inside the stadium and should not have been in areas related to the match.”
Meanwhile, a fine of 20,000 baht (about 790,000 won) was imposed on each of two spectators: one who made racist remarks to Park, and another who swore at and insulted Kanchanaburi players, including Baggio, and raised his middle finger.
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter