[Photo] Coach for Russian national volleyball team under fire for racist gesture

Italian-born Sergio Busato, an assistant coach for the Russian national women's volleyball team, has come under fire for making a racist gesture after his team defeated South Korea during an Olympic qualifier match in Kaliningrad, Russia. A photograph of Busato slanting and squinting his eyes was posted on the Russian sports website Sport 24 on Aug. 4. The Korea Volleyball Association (KVA) has since filed a complaint to the Volleyball Federation of Russia demanding that Busato pay a penalty. Busato, who justified his gesture by claiming it was a “congratulatory message” celebrating Russia’s Tokyo Olympic qualification, has apologized for his gesture, but many South Koreans consider his apology insincere.