Park Jong-Woo held up a placard referring to a territorial dispute between South Korea and Japan after his country had beaten the Japanese 2-0, a move that made worldwide headlines and prompted International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials to ban Park from the podium at Wembley Stadium after the gold medal game between Mexico and Brazil.

"He was as big a contributor to the team as anyone," Hong (pictured top) told a news conference in Seoul.

"As far as I am concerned, he is a well-deserving bronze medallist.

"That should have been his moment to remember, and he never got that chance."

FIFA has also opened disciplinary proceedings against the player, who claims he was passed the sign by a fan from the stands.

Back home the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) has reportedly asked Park not to attend official functions to celebrate the nation's first ever Olympic football medal.

Park Jong-Woo displayed a political slogan following his team's win against Japan at the London 2012 football tournament

"When I heard the KOC decided not to let Park attend these events, I was very disappointed," said Hong, who captained South Korea to the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

"I personally called him and told him to come.

"It was the least I could do as his coach."

The disputed Dokdo islands, controlled by South Korea but also claimed by Japan, lie equidistant from the two countries.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) recently wrote to their counterparts in Japan aimed at a reconciliation by stressing Park's impromptu act was not premeditated.

The KFA denied it was an apology, merely clarification of Park's "impulsive" act and expressed "hope the two sides will be able to work together to prevent similar incidents in the future."

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