South Korea suspend striker Hwang Ui-jo over sex video investigation
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Hwang Ui-Jo battling for the ball during South Korea's 5-0 World Cup qualifying win over Singapore.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SEOUL – Striker Hwang Ui-jo has been suspended by South Korea six weeks before the Asian Cup because of a police investigation into allegations that he illegally filmed an ex-girlfriend.
The Norwich City forward is accused of filming a sexual encounter with his former partner on his phone without consent. He has denied the allegation.
Hwang played for South Korea in two World Cup qualifiers earlier in November, scoring a penalty in the 5-0 home win over Singapore,
The 31-year-old remains eligible to play for English second-tier club Norwich and scored in a 3-2 loss at Watford on the same day of the KFA decision. He also scored in their previous game.
“Until a definitive conclusion is drawn, we have decided to exclude Hwang from the national team,” the KFA said.
Lee Youn-nam, who heads the KFA’s ethics committee, said national players must conduct themselves “with a high degree of morality and responsibility”.
“Considering the fact that the player is being investigated as a suspect, it is difficult for him to carry out normal national team activities,” Lee said.
“We took into account the fact a player has to carefully manage his personal life off the field.
“We also looked into how this case will affect the rest of the national team, and how his presence on the field will make our football fans feel.
“Football fans have high expectations for the national team, (so) we have deemed it inappropriate to select Hwang Ui-jo for the national team.”
Hwang, who is on loan at Norwich from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest, has scored 19 goals in 62 appearances for his country.
South Korea coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in a statement issued by the KFA: “I fully understand the current situation and will respect the decision of the Korea Football Association.”
The 59-year-old picked Hwang for the World Cup qualifying wins over Singapore and China, after the police had begun their probe, and defended his decision at the time.
“There are always speculations,” said the German World Cup winner after the 3-0 win over China in Shenzhen on Nov 21.
“Until there’s (anything) really concrete, there’s no problem for Ui-jo.”
The Asian Cup kicks off in Qatar on Jan 12, with South Korea opening their campaign against Bahrain three days later. AFP
