Racism in the K-League? Former Tottenham player Taricco suspended and fined for controversial gesture

Former Premier League defender Mauricio Taricco has been banned for five matches after making a racist gesture towards a referee in South Korea.

The 52-year-old Argentinian, now assistant to manager Gus Poyet at South Korean top champions Jeonbuk, appeared to have made a «slanting eye» gesture earlier this month.

Taricco was sent off by referee Kim Woo-seong after the former Ipswich and Tottenham player argued his side should have been awarded a penalty for handball.

He then allegedly shouted the Spanish word for ‘racist’ at the referee before putting his fingers to his eyes and pulling them back.

The referee reported the gesture to the K-League disciplinary committee, which ruled that Taricco’s «actions constituted racist conduct.»

“(The committee) noted that such a gesture is widely recognized across cultures as derogatory towards people of a certain race and is consistent with actions that have previously led to FIFA sanctions,” the K-League said in a statement on Wednesday.

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The league said Taricco had claimed «he was merely pointing to his eyes to question whether the referee had seen the handball foul».

The K-League rejected Taricco’s argument and he was also fined 20 million won (INR 12 lakh).

Jeonbuk were crowned First Division champions this season, becoming the first team to win the title ten times.

Published on November 20, 2025