“Curto disqualification, appeal ready: Cesena requests suspension”, this is the headline we find this morning in the columns of Il Resto del Carlino. The appeal against the 10-match ban, later reduced to 5, inflicted on Marco Curto by FIFA for “discriminatory behavior” against South Korean striker Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton, could be presented as early as today. The episode dates back to July, during a friendly match in Marbella between Como and Wolverhampton. According to the FIFA Disciplinary Commission, Curto uttered the phrase “Ignore him, he thinks he’s Jackie Chan”, directed at a teammate, which the South Korean FA deemed offensive, triggering an investigation.
The contested sentence, however, was not directed at the opponent and, according to Cesena and the player’s lawyer, has no discriminatory connotations. Despite this, the FIFA Commission decided to sanction Curto, based on a complaint presented by the South Korean Federation. Yesterday the reasons that justified such a severe decision arrived, and now these reasons are being analyzed by Curto’s lawyer and the Romagna club, who hope for a revision of the sentence.
Cesena will request a suspension of the disqualification, pending a new ruling from FIFA. This would allow Curto to be available already for the match on 19 October against Sampdoria. The time for the final verdict should not be long, and the club hopes for a favorable outcome that will completely cancel the sanction.