South Korea's Park convicted of misbehaviour

South Korea's Park Jong-woo has been barred for two games by the world football body FIFA and fined 3,500 Swiss francs ($3,783) after displayed a political message that inflamed a diplomatic row with Japan at the London Olympic football tournament.

The FIFA disciplinary panel ruled he violated rules "article 57 of the FIFA disciplinary code (offensive behaviour and fair play) and article 18 of the Regulations of the Olympic Football Tournaments London 2012 for displaying unsporting behaviour" when he raised a banner handed to him by a fan that read "Dokdo is our territory", a reference to a group of islands that is disputed between South Korea and Japan.

“The committee took into account that the behavior of the player, even though it appears not to have been premeditated or intentional, contradicts the principal idea and goal of sportsmanship and fair play, and therefore, cannot be tolerated,” FIFA said in a statement.

The Zurich-based body also warned the Korean Football Association sanctions will be harsher should the incident be repeated.

South Korea won the bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic tournament by beating Japan 2-0 in the play-off game. Although he was banned from attending the award ceremony, Park is reportedly permitted to keep his medal.