South Korea’s victorious U18 team were yesterday stripped of the Panda Cup after they infuriated hosts China with their celebrations.
South Korea had already apologized to “all the people in China” after a picture emerged of a player with his foot on the trophy.
They were accused of disrespect after they defeated the hosts 3-0 on Wednesday to win the annual youth international competition in Chengdu.
The photograph caused an uproar in Chinese media and on social media, with the organizing committee accusing South Korea of “a serious insult.”
The squad and coaches subsequently made a public apology, in which all the players and staff bowed deeply.
However, with Chinese media fanning the flames and claims that South Korea’s players also pretended to urinate against the cup, the Chengdu Football Association made it clear that apologies were not enough.
“The Panda Cup organizing committee decided to take back the trophy won by the [South] Korean team this time,” it said in a statement on a Chinese microblogging site.
The association, which called the players’ behavior “indecent,” suggested that South Korea would not be invited back in future.
“Teams and players who violate sports ethics and spirit are not welcome to participate,” it said.
South Korea, who have a simmering sports rivalry with China, also defeated New Zealand and Thailand to win the Panda Cup mini-tournament, which is in its sixth edition.
However, the winners have been scrambling to limit the fallout since the image emerged of the player with his foot on the cup.
Late on Wednesday, a team official, reading a statement in English in a hastily arranged display of public contrition, called it “a huge mistake.”
“We are really sorry for the mistake again and we humbly apologize to all the fans, all the players and also all the people in China,” he said.
“[We] apologize again,” he added, bowing.
The association’s video of the apology has been viewed more than 10 million times on social media, where the story was trending, underlining the huge public interest.
The Chinese Football Association has reportedly lodged a complaint with the Asian Football Confederation.
Taiwan’s Lee Hao-yu on Friday went 0-for-3 in his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, becoming the 19th Taiwan-born player to reach the big leagues. The Tigers ultimately lost 1-0 in 10 innings, ending their six-game winning streak. The 23-year-old started at third base and batted eighth for Detroit. He was promoted from Triple-A Toledo ahead of the four-game series against the Red Sox at the latter’s home stadium, replacing injured utility player Zach McKinstry. “Being right-handed, and given our schedule, I think six of the next 12 games are going to
Matheus Cunha on Saturday fired Manchester United toward the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 win at Chelsea, while Tottenham Hotspur remain in the relegation zone after twice blowing the lead to draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. Chelsea failed to take advantage of a United defense ravaged by injury and suspension as a fourth straight league defeat for the Blues left their Champions League hopes in ruins. United have missed out on the riches of Europe’s elite competition for the past two seasons, but are closing in on a return thanks to an upturn in fortunes under interim manager
Denmark’s double Olympic badminton champion Viktor Axelsen, long a rival of Taiwan’s former world No. 2 Chou Tien-chen, yesterday announced his retirement at age 32, saying back problems meant he could no longer “compete and train at the highest level.” Axelsen, who won gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and again in Paris in 2024, had back surgery in April last year and said he had not overcome his physical issues. “Accepting this situation has been incredibly difficult,” he said in a statement. “But I have now reached a point where my body won’t allow me to continue.” Axelsen retires as one
Italian soccer is at its lowest ebb in nearly 40 years after a wholesale European exodus at club level followed the nation’s failure for the third successive time to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and compounded a leadership and structural crisis. The exits suffered by Bologna and ACF Fiorentina on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League respectively meant no Italian teams are left in European competition this season. Italy’s last remaining UEFA Champions League contenders, Atalanta BC, went out in the round of 16 last month. It is the first time since the 1986-1987 campaign that Italian clubs
RSS