FIFA has punished Italian defender Marco Curto for racist abuse of Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan, giving him a 10-match suspension, five of which are suspended for two years.

Curto, who is presently a free agent from Como and playing for Cesena in Serie B, was found guilty of assaulting Hwang in July during a friendly game in Marbella. After Hwang reported the incident during the second half of the match, Daniel Podence was given a red card, and his teammates reacted angrily.

“The athlete Marco Curto received a 10-match penalty after it was determined that he had engaged in discriminatory behavior. The player who misses half of those games faces a two-year probationary suspension, is required to do community service, and is required to get training and education from a FIFA-approved organization,” a representative for the international football body was cited by Sky Sports.

The week after the Wolves friendly, 25-year-old Curto went on a season-long loan to Serie B team Cesena.

Director of football operations and administration for Wolves Matt Wild welcomed FIFA’s ruling, reiterating the team’s opposition to discrimination and endorsing the punishment.

“The player’s suspension makes it very clear that racism and other forms of discrimination are not acceptable in society or sport. This result demonstrates FIFA’s determination to make sure that grave transgressions have significant repercussions, and it gives us hope to see sports punishments used in conjunction with community service and education.

“Such actions highlight the value of teaching and discipline in removing discriminatory behavior from the beloved game.

“Wolves will always stand firmly against racism and discrimination in any form, and we remain fully committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected and included,” he said.