A South Korean player puts his foot on the trophy after winning the Panda Cup soccer tournament on Wednesday in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. (Screenshot photo)
(ECNS) - The championship trophy won by South Korea in the 2019 Panda Cup international youth football tournament has been revoked after its players made disrespectful gestures, according to the organizing committee.
After the awards ceremony Wednesday night, some players engaged in behavior during their celebration such as putting their feet on the trophy. The picture went viral online.
The South Korean team has apologized to the organizing committee and the Korea Football Association (KFA) issued an apology letter to the Chengdu Football Association.
The coach of the South Korean team expressed their gratitude to the organizing committee and apologized for the lack of respect by individual players. The KFA said it will levy penalties on players and vowed to prevent such an incident from happening again.
The organizing committee said the Panda Cup, now in its sixth edition, will not tolerate any act that violates the spirit of sport, especially now that it has become an international event with the support of Chengdu city in Sichuan Province and the Chinese Football Association.
