FIFA says North Korea must play Japan in Bangkok
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-10 18:21

World soccer governing body FIFA has ordered North Korea to play a politically sensitive home World Cup qualifier against Japan behind closed doors in Bangkok next month.

In a statement posted on its website on Monday, FIFA said North Korea's soccer association had not appealed in time against an April 29 decision to punish the country for crowd trouble during March qualifiers against Bahrain and Iran in Pyongyang.

"The Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup has today announced that the Korea DPR-Japan preliminary competition match will be played on June 8 at a neutral venue in Bangkok, Thailand," the statement said.

North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

There was no immediate reaction from Pyongyang but last week, official North Korean media strongly criticised FIFA for its proposed punishment.

Japan welcomed the decision after some officials feared their country's 1910-1945 colonial rule over the Korean peninsula could have made their team a target in Pyongyang, too.

"Now that the final decision to play the game in Bangkok has been made we must get on and prepare properly," Japan Football Association (JFA) chairman Saburo Kawabuchi said.

"Playing in an empty stadium will be a new experience but it's down to us to make sure we're ready to deal with that."

South Korea's soccer federation had been pushing for the match against Japan to go ahead in Pyongyang and had also sought to help the North appeal.

South Korean soccer officials expressed regret, but said that there may still be time for Pyongyang to appeal.

"It is pity that FIFA decided that North Korea had to play the match in Bangkok" said You Young-cheul, the KFA's media relations director, said by telephone.

"We are watching possible additional steps that might come from either FIFA or North Korea with great interest", You said.

ANGRY FANS

He ruled out financial help for the North, which was fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($16,600) by FIFA, but said the Korea Football Association could still help if there was an appeal.

The Bangkok Post reported at the weekend the Group B match would be played at the Rajamangala National Stadium there.

It was not immediately clear why no appeal was lodged in time.

FIFA ordered the Japan tie to be played in a neutral country following crowd trouble during North Korea's 2-0 defeat by Iran on March 30.

Angry fans hurled bottles, rocks and other projectiles in protest at a late sending-off in the game at Kim Il-sung Stadium.

Soldiers were also called in to restore order as home fans prevented Iran's team bus from leaving the stadium after the game in a rare display of public disorder in the secretive communist state.

Monday's FIFA announcement said the measure also took into account unspecified incidents during North Korea's 2-1 home defeat to Bahrain on March 26.

Close

Juventus edge AC Milan 1-0 Sochaux vs Strasbourg Sui Feifei

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
Most Japanese say shrine visits should stop         Forum brings opportunity to knock         President Hu meets Chirac, Putin in Moscow         Hometown gives Soong a heroic welcome         Police on alert ahead of China-Japan match         RMB speculation fails to materialize	China's shuttlers looking to home advantage       F1 manufacturers seek new appeals process       MVP Nash to lead Suns against former team       Van Gundy backtracks from comments       Source: Suns' D'Antoni to be Coach of Year       Troussier determined to fight Marseille's cause