Como denied accusations of racism while admitting on Tuesday one of their players referred to South Korea forward Hwang Hee-chan as Hollywood action star ‘Jackie Chan’ during a stormy friendly defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The newly-promoted Serie A club lost 1-0 in Marbella on Monday but the pre-season match was overshadowed by the incident and Wolves’ Daniel Podence then being sent off following a subsequent violent altercation.

In a statement, Como insisted the unnamed player “did not say anything in a derogatory manner” and “the reaction of certain Wolves players has seen the incident blown out of proportion”.

“We spoke to the defender in question to understand what was said. He has told us the comment he made, to his co-defender, was ‘ignore him, he thinks he’s Jackie Chan’,” said Mirwan Suwarso, representing Como’s wealthy Indonesian owners Djarum.

“Having spoken to our player at length, we are confident this was in reference to the player’s name, and to the constant references of ‘Channy’ made by his own teammates on the pitch.”

Premier League club Wolves said on Monday they would be submitting a formal complaint about the incident to European governing body UEFA.

Bankrolled by tobacco giants Djarum, Como are preparing for their first season of top flight football in 21 years, after storming through the divisions since being acquired in 2019 following multiple bankruptcies.

From the lakeside city in northern Italy, Como begin the upcoming campaign at Juventus.

 

© Agence France-Presse

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