Ki claims 'racist celebration' was intended to highlight abuse in Scotland

CELTIC star Ki Sung-yueng has claimed his controversial goal celebration in Tuesday's Asian Cup semi-final against Japan was intended to highlight the racist abuse he has suffered in Scottish football.

• Ki celebrates the opener with Park Ji-Sung. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

The Asian Football Confederation confirmed they will take no action against the South Korean internationalist over the incident.

Ki opened the scoring from the spot at Al Gharafa Stadium and celebrated by appearing to impersonate a monkey in an apparent derogatory reference to Japanese people that outraged sections of the country's media.

• Watch the Japanese video of the celebration on YouTube

However, the Celtic midfielder revealed he was in fact trying to hit back against abuse suffered while playing in Scotland.

"The treatment he got from the Scottish league, especially in the away games, the people who made noises like the sound of the monkeys in Scotland when he played away games, that is something he wanted to highlight," said a Korea Football Association spokesman.

"Even though they call him a monkey as an Asian, he wanted to show how strong they are in Asia. That was the main intention."

The Japanese Football Association accepted their Korean counterparts' explanation of the incident and like the AFC, have no intention of pursuing the matter further. The AFC also confirmed there has been no contact from FIFA over the issue.

"We are aware of the goal celebration but we don't think it impacts on any country," said AFC tournament director Tokuaki Suzuki.

"The issue, according to my understanding, has already been resolved after communication between the Japan Football Association and the Korea Football Association.

"AFC will not take any legal action in this matter."

Korea eventually lost on penalties to their regional rivals after the last-four encounter finished 2-2.