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S. Korea files complaint against Uzbekistan’s U22 soccer team

February 3, 2015
An Uzbekistani player delivers an acrobatic kick to the head of Korean player Kang Sang-woo during the 2015 King's Cup match in Bangkok on Sunday. (Screen capture fron YouTube)

An Uzbekistani player delivers an acrobatic kick to the head of Korean player Kang Sang-woo during the 2015 King’s Cup match in Bangkok on Sunday. (Screen capture fron YouTube)

By Lee Min-hyung

Video footage of an Uzbekistan’s U-22 football player landing a flurry of punches on his South Korean opponent during a match in Thailand, Sunday, has angered netizens here.

The incident occurred in the second half of a match at the 2015 King’s Cup in Bangkok, when Uzbekistan’s Tohirjon Shamshitdinov delivered a three-punch combo to the head of Sim Sang-min.

The video surpassed the 100,000-viewer mark on YouTube in less than a day.

Another Uzbek player earlier delivered an acrobatic kick to the head of Kang Sang-woo to catch a ball in air.

Both Uzbek players were given a red card for their conduct.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Monday that it had sent a letter of complaint to the organizing committee of the King’s Cup.

“The Korean national team was shocked over the Uzbek players’ violence,” a KFA official said. “We sent the complaint letter to prevent any recurrence of conduct violating fair play rules.”

Korean football fans expressed anger over Uzbekistan’s lack of sportsmanship.

Shamshitdinov “must have been taught boxing skills by Uzbekistan’s football coaches,” said a YouTube user who went by the name Lee Byuung-yoon.

“The Uzbek national team must be punished for this.”

Some Uzbek fans apologized on behalf of their national team.

“He should be banned from soccer forever, and never play again. I apologize for his behavior. Uzbekistan federation should apologize for him,” a YouTube user named Russel K said.

Despite Uzbekistan’s aggressive play, Korea prevailed, 1-0.