



By Jung Min-ho







The Korea Volleyball Association (KVA) said Thursday it has filed complaints against a Russian women's team coach for his racist gesture following a recent match between the two countries.





The national governing body for the sport said it filed complaints with FIVB, the international volleyball federation, and its Russian counterpart against Sergio Busato, an Italian-born assistant coach for Russia, who made a "slant-eye" gesture after Sunday's qualifying tournament game for the next Olympics.





"We expressed regret at his racist gesture to FIVB and the Russian federation and demanded they take proper measures," a KVA official told reporters.





In the final Group E match at DS Yantarny in Kaliningrad, Russia, Korea lost to the host 3-2. The victory qualified Russia for next year's Tokyo Games.





In a post-match celebration, Busato was photographed making the clearly derogatory gesture.





During an international football friendly against Korea in 2017, Colombian midfielder Edwin Cardona made a similar gesture and was later warned by FIFA.





FIVB told

it is reviewing the complaint through internal procedures.





"There will be no further comment on this matter until this process is complete … However, it is important to stress that the FIVB does not approve of any such culturally insensitive gestures, even if there was no intention to offend," a FIVB spokesman was quoted as saying.





"The FIVB is committed to fostering better understanding and tolerance of the sport's rich cultural and ethnic diversity."

