Overview
- Taricco received a five‑match suspension and a 20 million won fine after the committee ruled his gesture toward referee Kim Woo-seong was racially discriminatory.
- The incident occurred on Nov. 8 after Taricco was sent off, with video showing him pulling his fingers from the center of his eyes outward as he shouted expletives and the word “racista.”
- Referee Kim reported the gesture to the league, and the Korea Professional Football Referee Association had urged formal action and warned it could take the case to FIFA.
- Jeonbuk argued the coach lacked racist intent and was questioning whether the referee had seen the play, but the panel prioritized the gesture’s universal meaning over claimed intent.
- Jeonbuk representatives attended the hearing on Taricco’s behalf, and the club said it is considering whether to appeal the ruling.