SOCCER in NORTH KOREA
2005 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
and other news
Return to *North Korean Studies*
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SOCCER in NORTH KOREA2005 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERand other news |
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North and South Korea:Cooperation and Conflicts
Intercultural Institute of
California (IIC) |
SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea beat North Korea 3-0 in a men's football friendly held as part of joint festivities marking the end of Japan's colonial rule over the Korean peninsula 60 years ago.
The South's opening goal came in the 33rd minute when midfielder Chung Kyung-Ho's
low header directed Kim Do-Heon's free kick from the right center into the
North's net.
Two minutes later, striker Kim Jin-Yong of the South lobbed a cross from
midfielder Baek Ji-Hoon to shake the North's net for the second time.
In the 67th minute, striker Park Chu-Young dribbled a cross into the penalty
area and gently directed it over the North's diving goalie into the net.
Some 50,000 spectators packed the Seoul World Cup stadium to watch the friendly
but did not wave the flags of either country.
Instead, under an agreement between the two sides, they cheered both teams with
the same "unification flags" which feature a blue-colored Korean peninsula
against a white background.
The game was part of a four-day inter-Korean festival celebrating Korea's
independence from Japan's 36-year colonial rule in 1945. The two Koreas are to
hold a women's friendly on Tuesday.
North Korea sent some 180 delegates to Seoul for the festivities.
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Is FIFA’s Disciplinary Decision on
North Korea Fair?
by Leonid A. Petrov, The Korea Times, 17 May 2005
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The recent riot at the Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang cost North Korea and its soccer fans dearly. During the game against Iran, angry North Korean players shoved the referee. Disappointed fans hurled bottles and rocks on the field after their appeals for a penalty were turned down. Soldiers and the public security forces moved in to suppress the public unrest so uncharacteristic of this communist state. After the game, the angry mob for two hours was preventing Iran's bus from leaving the stadium. The Stadium, which is believed to be sacred for every citizen, has been vandalised. The common belief that the public order in North Korea is fully controlled by the state has been shaken. |
The final stage of the 2006 World Cup preliminary competition does look dramatic for North Korea. The DPRK Football Association will be fined by FIFA and the next "home game" will be moved from North Korea to be played on a neutral ground and behind closed doors. When FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision was announced a month later, many named it “unfair” and “cruel”. The currency-hungry state is forfeiting the equivalent of USD 16,800 in penalty. It will also lose hundreds of foreign guests and journalists who planned to visit Pyongyang on June 8, 2005, and miss the advantage over the rival team who are not accustomed to the artificial grass on the Kim Il-sung Stadium.
Indeed, is FIFA’s decision fair? The North Koreans believe it is not and blame the wrong refereeing by the Syrian referee and linesmen. They promised to lodge an appeal against the Disciplinary Committee’s decision for its alleged favouritism toward Japan but no action has been taken so far. The South Korean Football Association is now trying to help their North Korean colleagues to lodge such appeal. It is a noble move but would not it be better to help the DPRK Football Association understand the reasons why they are being penalized?
In handling this incident, one should not forget the FIFA’s motto of fair play. The Disciplinary Committee’s decision has been made with consideration of safety for players, coaching staff, audience, and the fairness of the game in general. The North Koreans have failed to provide the safe environment during the match against Iran, a friendly state which is often grouped with the DPRK for its “evil” nuclear ambitions. What should we expect from the game where both states are technically at war with each other? The issues of kidnappings, territorial dispute, and history books may easily overshadow the atmosphere of international sport festival.
Even the problem of “neutral venue” for the future match is causing a conflict. Where North Koreans would accept China as the neutral host nation, it is unacceptable for Japan due to the wave of recent anti-Japanese sentiments there. It is likely that the match will be played in Bangkok, Thailand. But North Koreans are not comfortable with this choice: in 1999 Thailand expelled six DPRK diplomats following a bungled refugee-kidnapping incident. Thai’s hot and humid climate is another obstacle for the North Korean players who spent most time training in north-eastern China.
Soccer matches between Korea and Japan are always sensational. They attract huge interest not only in the respective countries but also around the whole region. Bad sentiments about the former colonial order remain strong in the countries of East Asia and can be easily vented during the large-scale mass event. In the circumstances where North Korea has minimal chances to progress through the qualification tournament, the last game against Japan, if played in Pyongyang, could easily turn into a fight which would have very little to do with sport but would be all about hatred and politics.
The football associations of North and South Korea should join their efforts in making the game enjoyable, fair, and safe for everyone. Negative sentiments associated with the turbulent history of the 20th century must be left behind the playground. This is what the North Koreans still have to learn and demonstrate by accepting FIFA's disciplinary decision. An extra credit will be given to them if they prevail and beat Japan on 8 June in Bangkok or elsewhere.
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May 10 (Bloomberg) -- North Korea's World Cup qualifying match against Japan next month will be played in an empty stadium in Bangkok as punishment for crowd trouble at games in Pyongyang in March, soccer ruling body FIFA said.
FIFA ordered North Korea to hold the June 8 match at a neutral venue after fans threw chairs and bottles during a March 30 game against Iran at Kim Il Sung stadium. FIFA also cited violence in a match against Bahrain four days earlier.
FIFA said today the Japan game will be played in the Thai capital after North Korea's Football Association failed to lodge an appeal against its April 29 decision to switch the match to a neutral venue and bar fans from the arena.
Trouble erupted in the Iran game after the referee turned down a penalty appeal by North Korea with the home team trailing 2-0 with five minutes left. Match officials stayed on the field 25 minutes after the end before dashing off under a hail of bottles and plastic chairs.
Sunil Senaweera, FIFA's commissioner at the match, said in an April 2 interview that holding the Japan game in Pyongyang would be dangerous unless security was bolstered.
North Korea, seeking to play in the World Cup for the first time since reaching
the 1966 quarterfinals, lost the first three of six qualifying matches. Iran, on
seven points, leads the group in which the top two advance to next year's finals
in Germany. Japan has six points, Bahrain has four and North Korea has none.
Associated Press, 9 May 2005
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - A bipartisan group of South Korean lawmakers have petitioned the world soccer body FIFA to let this country host a World Cup qualifier match between North Korea and Japan, which is being moved from Pyongyang after earlier soccer violence there, a legislator's office said Monday.
Chung Bong-ju of the governing Uri Party told reporters at the National Assembly that 121 legislators had so far joined the petition, which will be sent Tuesday, his office said.
In the petition, the legislators propose that FIFA make South Korea the venue for the June 8 match between North Korea and Japan, with spectators allowed in the stadium.
FIFA in late April ordered North Korea to play its crucial qualifier against Japan in a neutral country - and with no spectators - as punishment for crowd trouble during a 2-0 home loss against Iran in March.
South Korea offered to host the qualifier, even as sports officials in Thailand have said they had been asked to host the game. It was not clear why the South Korean lawmakers proposed hosting it in their country instead.
During the Iran match, fans threw bottles and chairs onto the field when the referee turned down appeals for a penalty after a North Korean player was apparently pulled down by an Iranian.
FIFA also fined the North Korean soccer association 20,000 Swiss francs (US$16,770; ?13,000). North Korea last week urged FIFA to reconsider its decision.
Yahoo News, Sun May 8, 9:20 AM ET
TOKYO
(AFP) - Japan's football chief said he had no objections to moving their away
World Cup qualifier against North Korea to the neutral venue of Bangkok
following crowd trouble at previous matches in Pyongyang.
"I
have no reason to raise objections if I am asked 'how about Thailand?'"
Japan Football Association president Saburo Kawabuchi told reporters on Sunday.
"Aside from China, there will be no difference."
Kawabuchi
has vowed to oppose any move to stage the June 8 qualifier in China, a close
ally and neighbour of North Korea, because of violent anti-Japanese protests
which swept through Chinese cities last month.
He
was commenting the day after it was learned that the world football governing
body FIFA had contacted Thailand's Football Association about the possibility of
staging the North Korea-Japan match in Bangkok.
"After
consulting with the association president and executives we replied to FIFA that
we are willing to host that match, and as of now we are waiting for more details
and information from FIFA," Worawi Makudi, secretrary general of the Thai
association, said in Bangkok on Saturday.
FIFA
was expected to contact Thailand this week for final details on the match,
Worawi told AFP.
FIFA's
disciplinary committee ruled nine days ago that the Japan-North Korea match be
played on neutral ground and without spectators. The committee also fined the
impoverished Stalinist state 16,800 dollars.
North
Korean players jostled the referee and fans threw chairs, bottles and other
objects onto the pitch when their team lost to Iran 2-0 at home on March 30.
FIFA also cited trouble at North Korea's match against Bahrain on March 25.
On
Friday North Korea's state-controlled media called on FIFA to reverse the
decision which they said was "unreasonable" and probably influenced by
pressure from Japan, Asian champions and political enemies of North Korea.
North
Korea's hopes of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years
have all but faded after losing their first three matches.
The
Japanese football chief said he had not heard from FIFA about a venue switch to
Thailand or a North Korean appeal against the decision.
Zurich-based
FIFA reportedly sent a formal letter on the sanction to Pyongyang by
international courier service last Monday. North Korea were given three days to
appeal against the punishment but it was not clear if the Stalinist state had
acknowledged receiving the FIFA notice.
Japan
beat North Korea 2-1 at home, amid political tensions over the Stalinist state's
kidnapping of Japanese citizens during the Cold War years.
Iran stand at the top of the Asian Group B with two wins and one draw, followed by Japan with two wins and one loss. Bahrain follow with one win, one loss and one draw and North Korea are winless.
CNN.com , Saturday, May 7, 2005 Posted: 7:41 AM EDT (1141 GMT)
TOKYO, Japan -- North Korea's politically charged World Cup qualifier against Japan next month will be played in Bangkok, Thai media have said. The Bangkok Post reported that Thai officials have received a fax from FIFA requesting the match be held in Thailand after it was switched from North Korean capital Pyongyang.
FIFA ordered the June 8 clash to be played in a neutral country behind closed doors following crowd trouble after North Korea's 2-0 defeat by Iran on March 30.
FIFA punished North Korea after fans hurled bottles, rocks and other projectiles in protest at a late sending off in the game with Iran at the Kim Il-sung Stadium.
Soldiers moved in to restore calm as North Korean fans prevented Iran's bus from leaving the stadium after the game in a rare display of public disorder in the secretive communist state.
North Korea's state-run media blasted FIFA's decision as "unjust" while South Korean officials are assisting the North to file an appeal.
Neutral observers have also questioned the severity of FIFA's punishment. Franz Beckenbauer, chairman of Germany's 2006 World Cup organising committee, suggested FIFA had "over-reacted".
"The decision was made in Zurich so maybe FIFA didn't know exactly what happened," he said in Seoul this week. "Maybe FIFA is over-reacting. North Korea should have another chance."
Japanese officials lobbied to have the game moved from Pyongyang and avoid a politically awkward visit given the bitter relations between the two governments.
Japan indicated, however, that they would protest if FIFA ordered the game to be played in China after weeks of anti-Japan demonstrations in the country.
Yahoo News, Fri May 6, 6:31 AM ET
TOKYO (AFP) - North Korea's media called on FIFA to reverse its decision to move their home World Cup qualifier against Japan to a third country as a punishment for crowd trouble at previous matches in Pyongyang.
The North Korean sports daily Cheyuk Sinmun said the decision by the world football governing body was "unreasonable" and probably influenced by pressure from Japan, Asian champions and political enemies of North Korea.
FIFA's disciplinary committee ruled a week ago that the Japan-North Korea match on June 8 be played on neutral ground and without spectators. The committee also fined the impoverished Stalinist state 16,800 dollar.
North Korean players jostled the referee and fans threw chairs, bottles and other objects onto the pitch when their team lost to Iran 2-0 at home on March 30. FIFA also cited trouble at North Korea's match against Bahrain on March 25.
The sports daily said it hoped FIFA would reexamine the case and "make a wise judgment for the sake of its authority, the development of football and the future of the FIFA."
The commentary was carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency monitored here while the North Korean football association remained silent on how it would react to the punishment.
FIFA reportedly informed the association by letter on Monday and it was given three days to appeal against the sanction.
"I understand that our football association sent a reply to FIFA yesterday, stating its case against the FIFA decision on the basis of sportsmanship," said an official at the Korean Physical Culture and Sports Federation in Japan, a Pyongyang-controlled group of ethnic Koreans.
The sports daily repeated a statement by the North Korean football association that the reactions of the players and spectators resulted from unfair refereeing.
It went on to point its finger at Japan. "What should not be overlooked is that the committee could not properly fulfill its duty because it more attentively listened to an 'advice' made by Japan," it said.
The daily pointed to reports that Japan quickly proposed Malaysia as the substitute venue for the upcoming qualifier after the FIFA action.
"It is the ulterior motive of Japan to trounce the (North Korean) team by creating a favorable environment for it come what may," the daily said.
"If it is true that the dignified FIFA Disciplinary Committee accepted Japan's 'advice,' it would be an irretrievable historic mistake committed by it."
Iran stand at the top of the Asian Group B with two wins and one draw, followed by Japan with two wins and one loss. Bahrain follow with one win, one loss and one draw and North Korea are winless.
The
"decision" calls for holding the match between the DPRK team and the
Japanese team in a stadium without spectators in a third country, instead of
having it in Pyongyang on June 8 as scheduled, and imposing a fine upon the DPRK
team.
The
disciplinary measure taken by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee against the
behaviors of spectators after painting them as a "disturbance" and
considering it as an established fact is lashing the Korean people into great
fury because they deem the national dignity as their life and soul.
It was a
prejudice that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee "branded" the just
actions of spectators as a "disturbance" or "commotion". The
DPRK Football Association in a statement of its spokesman protested against the
unreasonable behavior of the referees, sent video tapes on which the unfair
refereeing is recorded to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and its members
received and watched them. And the committee exceptionally invited a DPRK
delegation to hear from it the principled request for dealing with the
unreasonable behavior of the referees. The committee, however, turned it down
and adopted such a harsh "decision" against the DPRK team.
The
soccer history does not record such awfully unfair refereeing as what happened
during the matches held here.
What
should not be overlooked is that the committee could not properly fulfill its
duty because it more attentively listened to an "advice" made by
No
sooner had the committee made the unreasonable decision than
If it is
true that the dignified FIFA Disciplinary Committee accepted
AP, 2 May 2005
Yahoo News, Sat Apr 30, 2005, 9:33 AM ET
TOKYO (AFP)
- Japan's football chief said he would reject any move to stage
North
Korea's home World Cup qualifier in China, following crowd unrest at
previous matches in Pyongyang. The
world football governing body FIFA decided on Friday to play the June 8
qualifier against Japan in a third country and without spectators.
But
Japanese officials are wary about the prospect of playing in China after recent
violent anti-Japanese demonstrations swept through Chinese cities. "We will
express our wish to FIFA and Malaysia would be the best," Saburo Kawabuchi,
president of the Japan Football Association, told a news conference Saturday.
"We can hardly say there would be no problem if it is played in China under
the present circumstances," he said, adding that he would object to a match
in China, a close ally and neighbour of North Korea.
Demonstrators
attacked Japanese diplomatic and business facilities in Chinese cities earlier
this month, protesting what they called Japan's wrong perceptions of its
militarist past. Angry Chinese supporters also burned Japanese flags and
confronted armed riot police after their side crashed 3-1 to defending champions
Japan in the Asian Cup final last year.
FIFA said it would announce the substitute venue to North Korea in "due course" and the FIFA sanction can be appealed within three days. It also fined the North Korean football association 16,800 dollars.
The venue
shift and fine was in response to North Korean players who jostled the referee
and fans who threw chairs, bottles and other objects onto the pitch when their
team lost to Iran. 2-0 at home on March 30.
FIFA also cited trouble
at North Korea's match against Bahrain on March 26.
Kawabuchi
said Japan would provide financial support to North Korea in playing the match
on neutral ground "if they request our support". The Japanese FA chief
also warned that without spectators "it is undoubtedly going to be a match
which will hardly provide much motivation".
But the
venue switch is widely seen here as a boon to the Japanese who are unfamiliar
with the infamous artificial pitch at Pyongyang's Kim Il-Sung Stadium. The
Japanese association had planned to increase the number of studs in the shoes
from 13 to 15 to cope with the hard surface. Japan have a sentimental attachment
to Kuala Lumpur's Johor Bar stadium where they clinched a dramatic victory over
Iran in a 1997 playoff and won their first ever ticket to the World Cup finals.
Japan
coach Zico said he had no preference as to the host country. "We can have a
good match if there is a pitch which is ordinary by Japanese standards."
About the absence of spectators, the Brazilian said, "I have never
experienced it myself. We have no choice but train with the new situation in
mind, including the problem of concentration". "The team are prepared
to produce a result under any circumstances," he added.
An official from the Korean Physical Culture and Sports Federation in Japan said FIFA's decision "is the worst possible situation". The federation is run by the Pyongyang-controlled General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, and the official told AFP: "I believe our country will file a protest in some form with FIFA."
29 April 2005, by FIFAworldcup.com
The
referee holds back North Korean player Nam Song Chol after a penalty decision.
World football governing body FIFA punished North Korea for crowd unrest at
their recent World Cup qualifiers and ordered the team to play its next home
game against Japan on neutral territory and behind closed doors.(AFP/Peter
Parks) |
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee met today in Zurich under the chairmanship of Marcel Mathier (Switzerland). The decisions taken today included the following, which have already been notified to the three associations mentioned below who were all present at FIFA headquarters. Following the incidents that occurred during the games of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ preliminary competition Korea DPR-Bahrain (March 26, 2005) and Korea DPR-Iran (March 30, 2005), the next scheduled "home game" of Korea DPR in this competition (v Japan on June 8, 2005) will be played on neutral ground and behind closed doors.
FIFA will announce the venue in due course. |
Yunsuk Lim in Seoul, April 29, 2005
April 30 (Bloomberg)
-- North Korea will not be allowed to host a World Cup qualifying match
with Japan because v
The match between
North Korea and Japan on June 8 ``will be played on neutral ground and
behind closed doors,'' FIFA said on its website yesterday. ``FIFA will
announce the venue in due course,'' it said. North Korea has also been
fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($16,700).
North Korean fans
threw bottles and rocks down onto a field after a referee ruled against
the North Korean team in a match against Iran on March 30 at the Kim Il
Sung stadium in Pyongyang. North Korea lost the match 0-2.
North Korea is competing to win a place at the World Cup in Germany next year. In its qualifying group, North Korea lags Iran, which has seven points, Japan with six points, and Bahrain with four points. North Korea has none. The top two teams are assured of a place of a spot at next year's World Cup.
ZURICH (AFP) - World football governing body FIFA punished
North Korea for crowd unrest at their recent World Cup qualifiers and
ordered the team to play its next home game against Japan on neutral territory
and behind closed doors.
The Asian region qualifier for the 2006 World Cup had been scheduled to take
place in the North Korean capital Pyongyang.
A bus carrying the Iranian team was also attacked by North Koreans outside
the Kim Il-Sung Stadium.
The Japanese government had already asked for assurances for the safety of
its team and fans.
In other rulings released Friday, FIFA's disciplinary committee sanctioned
Iran for crowd trouble during a match against Japan on March 26. Iran will have to play their next home game -- against North Korea on June 3
-- in front of a maximum 50,000 fans. FIFA fined the Iranian FA 30,000 Swiss
francs.
The football body also ordered Georgia to play their next two home matches
behind closed doors, a sanction applying to games against Ukraine on September 3
and Kazakhstan on October 8.
by Soon-Taek Kwon ([email protected])
The foreign media paid keen attention to the North Korean audience’s
furious reaction after the 2006 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier between North
Korea and Iran at Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Stadium on March 30.
Though the disturbance erupted because of a Syrian referee’s decision not to allow a penalty kick, the foreign media noted that this sort of “disturbance inside the controlled country” usually failed to reach the notice of outsiders.
The foreign news agencies, including the Associated Press (AP), Agence
France-Presse (AFP), Reuters, and Kyodo News, introduced the riot by North
Koreans in full detail, reporting directly from Seoul or Pyongyang.
The Reuters News Agency remarked, “The world has been granted a rare sneak
peak into North Korean mob violence,” while AFP introduced the commotion by
saying, “It’s rare for the North’s crowd violence to be caught by the
foreign press.”
The foreign media outlets quoted Iranian players as saying that “it was a
very dangerous situation,” reporting that the police set up a defensive line
as bottles, stones, and chairs from the angry crowd were thrown onto the Iranian
players at the stadium and that the police also blocked the crowd outside the
stadium.
Regarding the situation outside the stadium, AFP reported that there was a
danger of its becoming violent and that the crowd and the police exchanged some
tussling, but added that large-scale violence or fighting did not seem to have
occurred.
The AP reported that there were 70,000 audience members inside the stadium
and Reuters said that thousands of people remained outside the stadium two hours
after the match had ended.
Meanwhile, the Japanese press also reported this recent uprising by North
Koreans, focusing on the violence of the North Korean crowd. The Japanese team
has a match in North Korea on June 8.
The Sankei Sports expressed its concern by saying, “North Korea will put
everything into its match against Japan, since it has nothing left to lose after
three consecutive losses.”
FootballAsia.com said that North Korea is sure to be subjected to a
disciplinary measure by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for its crowd
violence, in a detailed report on its interview with the Iranian coach.
Dong-A Ilbo, MARCH 31, 2005 23:48
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Match
officials stand amongst chairs broken by angry North Korea fans. World football
governing body FIFA punished North Korea for crowd unrest at their recent World
Cup qualifiers and ordered the team to play its next home game against Japan on
neutral territory and behind closed doors.(AFP/Peter Parks) |
North Korean spectators breaking off and throwing seats in the Kim Il Sung
Stadium on March 30, despite the large presence of foreign news reporters,
presents a stark contrast to female cheerleaders from the North, who had shed
tears at the sight of Kim Il Sung’s picture on a placard getting wet in the
rain, during the Summer Universiade Daegu in August 2003. The stadium where the turmoil took place is considered a “sacred place,”
named after the North Koreans’ late Great Leader. Purposely destroying the
facilities of such a place is equivalent to committing a political felony. The fact that the disturbance took place, even under such circumstances,
reflects the enormous anger shared by the spectators. Moreover, most of the
cheerers seen on the TV screen were wearing expensive coats that cost as much as
KPW 30,000 ($12). They seemed to be the “core class” mobilized for the game.
It was these elites that protested against the People’s Security Force (North
Korean police). |
Two days before the match against Iran, North Korean Central TV broadcasted
the game against Bahrain, in which North Koreans became infuriated at unfair
judgments by referees as well.
What was also exceptional is that the North Korean TV aired a taped
broadcast of the losing game and the sight of angry spectators making strong
appeals, possibly out of concern that imposing “report control” as before
could backfire, shifting the people’s anger into another direction.
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30 March 2005, ITAR Tass, (in Russian)
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|
On
March 30, after the World Cup qualifier soccer match between North
Korea and Iran, North Korean fans strongly protest the final
results to Iranian coach Ivankovic, who was interviewing outside
the stadium. |
by Gordon Tynan, The Independent, 31 March 2005
FIFA is awaiting referee Mohammed Kousa's report before launching an investigation after he and two assistants were forced to seek refuge from angry North Korea fans following the World Cup qualifier against Iran. Iran beat North Korea 2-0 in Pyongyang yesterday in a match that ended in violent scenes to take the outright lead in their World Cup qualifying group. The match officials were unable to leave the pitch for 20 minutes after the game as furious North Korea fans hurled bottles, rocks and chairs in frustration. North Korean soldiers and police were forced to step in to restore order at Kim Il-Sung Stadium after the defender Nam Song-Chol was sent off for shoving the Syrian referee Kousa. The violence spilled over outside the stadium where thousands of angry North Korea supporters prevented Iran's players from boarding the team bus. Riot police finally pushed back the crowd far enough for Iran's squad to depart two hours after the end of the game.
"The atmosphere on the pitch and outside the pitch was not a sports
atmosphere," said Iran's Croatian coach, Branko Ivankovic. "It is very
disappointing when you feel your life is not safe. My players tried to get to
the bus after the game but it was not possible - it was a very dangerous
situation." A deflected free-kick from Mehdi Mahdavikia in the 33rd minute
and a Javad Nekounam goal 10 minutes from time gave Iran seven points from three
games in the final round of the Asian zone qualifiers for 2006. Tempers flared
towards the end of the Group B match as Nam was dismissed for pushing Kousa
after he had denied the defender a penalty. The game was held up for five
minutes following Nam's dismissal as bottles rained down on to the stadium's
running track. As trouble reignited on the final whistle, security forces were
mobilized and stadium announcements warned the crowd of 60,000 to be calm. The
result left North Korea's hopes of qualifying for their second World Cup in
tatters after their third consecutive defeat.
by Soon-Il Kwon, Dong-A Ilbo, MARCH 30, 2005 23:19
North Korea may have to surrender its dream of
playing in the World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years.
Never having played in the World Cup finals
since the team made the quarterfinals in the 1966 FIFA World Cup England, North
Korea enlisted Ahn Young Hak (Nagoya Grampus), who is playing in Japan’s
J-League, before the 2006 World Cup Germany qualifiers, but the problem lies in
the team’s poor defense.
Iran is 20th in the FIFA ranking and North Korea
is 91st. Having lost to Bahrain in the March 25 match, North Korea played a
cautious game against stronghold Iran, but failed to catch up in terms of
expertise and operation against its opponent who was fully armed with players
including stars from Germany’s Bundesliga teams.
The North Korean team, in which Kim Young Soo
and Choi Chul Man are the top two players, threatened Iran’s goal at 12
minutes in the first half and later aimed for the goal with Kim Chul Ho’s shot
27 minutes into the game.
However, Iran, armed with shooters Mehdi
Mahdavikia, Ali Karimi and Vahid Hashemian, turned the tables in the 22nd minute
with Zandi’s powerful left-foot shoot and later scored the first goal in the
33rd minute. A free-kick chance lead to this goal when the ball kicked by
Mahdavikia went over the North Korean goalkeeper’s head and directly into the
goal.
With the full support of around 70,000 home
fans, North Korea played an equal game in the first half, having 5-6 shooting
chances each, and also switched three players and went all-in in the second
half, but succumbed to its opponent 35 minutes into the second half by allowing
a second goal to Javad Nekounam.
Pyongyang, March 31 (KCNA) -- A football match between the DPRK and the Iranian teams belonging to the group B of the 2006 World Cup Asian regional qualifier took place in Pyongyang on Wednesday. The Iranian team won the game 2:0. At the end of the match all the spectators were angered and vigorously protested the wrong refereeing by the Syrian referee and linesmen.
29
March 2005,
by AFP
|
|
Iran have travelled to Korea DPR for their FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Wednesday overflowing with confidence, but their desperate hosts are sure to come out fighting after two defeats. Iran sit at the top of the Group B standings along with Bahrain after defeating Japan 2-1 in front of 100,000 fans at Tehran's Azadi stadium last week, and coach Branko Ivankovic believes his in-form team can be equally impressive in Pyongyang. |
"We
are going to North Korea to get the full three points," Ivankovic told
reporters after the win over Japan, who won the Asian Cup last year but are now
languishing in third place in the group. "We have overcome the champions of
Asia. We have overcome the biggest obstacle."
In
contrast, the North Koreans are bottom of Group B after losing to an injury-time
goal away to Japan and then suffering a demoralising 2-1 defeat by Bahrain in
Pyongyang last week.
The
speedy North Koreans dominated for much of the match against Bahrain and were
extremely unlucky not to have found the net more than once, but their
vulnerability to the counterattack allowed the visitors to capitalise.
"We
lost the last two matches because of weakness in our defence so we are aiming to
intensify our defence," team manager Pak Jong-Hun told reporters on
Tuesday.
The key to a North Korean upset may well rest
with their ability to contain Iran's trio of Bundesliga stars, Mehdi Mahdavikia
of Hamburg, Kaiserslautern's Fereydoun Zandi and Vahid Hashemian of Bayern
Munich.
26
March 2005,
by AFP
| Iran's 2-1 win over Japan in the Asian Group B World Cup
qualifiers has given the Middle East side a boost in confidence and left their
top Asian rivals wrangling over tactics. Iran
made sure their World Cup dream was kept on track Friday with a convincing home
win, largely thanks to their trio of Bundesliga-based stars - Vahid Hashemian of
Bayern Munich, Mehdi Mahdavikia of SV Hamburg and Kaiserslautern's Fereydoun
Zandi. |
|
"We are going to North Korea to get the full three points," Iran's Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic said, underlining his confidence before their trip to Pyongang to face North Korea in a few days' time. "We have overcome the champions of Asia. We have lifted the biggest obstacle in front of the World Cup," he said of the game against Japan, which drew a crowd of 100,000 to Tehran's Azadi stadium.
Ivankovic said the Pyongyang fixture is set to be missed by veteran captain Ali Daei due to injury - he was substituted in the first half of the Japan game - but the side appeared to have managed well without him and in the face of a fierce Japanese counterattack.
Both
of Iran's goals came from Hashemian, with Ali Karimi, Mahdavikia and Zandi
showing themselves to be strong playmakers. Iran's
press was predictably full of praise for the national side, thanking them for a
"new year's gift" and a "memorable day" coinciding with the
Persian new year's holiday season.
With
only the top two teams in each group qualifying automatically for next year's
tournament in Germany, Japan will now be under pressure to win their home game,
against Bahrain, at the Saitama stadium near Tokyo on March 30.
Japanese
coach Zico was under fire for gambling too much on out-of-form Fiorentina
midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, and for having opted to switch from a 3-5-2 to a
4-4-2 to accommodate him.
25
March 2005,
by AFP
Bahrain's bid to make the FIFA World Cup finals for the first
time received an unexpected boost on Friday when they upset North Korea 2-1 in
their Asian qualifying match in Pyongyang.
Husain
Ali was one of the stars for Bahrain, scoring both goals in the absence of
injured star strikers Ala'a Hobeil and Rashid Jamal, while goalkeeper Mohammed
Jaffar was equally impressive at the other end of the ground.
For
North Korea, it was a case of wasted opportunities in front of a noisy capacity
crowd of 70,000 at Kim Il-Sung stadium as they attacked relentlessly all game,
only to be denied on more than a dozen occasions by Jaffar.
Bahrain
came into the match in disarray after their Croatian coach, Srecko Juricic,
abandoned them last month in favour of Oman.
With
the injuries to Hobeil and Jamal, and playing in North Korea for the first time,
even team officials were saying in the lead up to the match they would be
content to escape with a draw.
North Korea made a furious start to the match, with Kim Yong-Jun's
right foot attempt in the third minute going just wide and Jaffar having to fend
off a close-range strike from Han Song-Chol a minute later.
Salmeen
made a driving run from halfway down the right side and crossed to a diving Ali,
who headed past young North Korean goalkeeper Kim Myong-Gil.
Bahrain
took a 2-0 lead early in the second half when Ahmed Hubail took advantage of
loose North Korean defence to run down the right flank and drill a cross to Ali,
who had been left unattended in the penalty box and scored easily with a
right-foot strike.
24
March 2005,
by AFP
Undermanned, abandoned by their coach and in hostile territory,
Bahrain enter Friday's FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown against the steely
North Koreans with their backs to the wall.
In
contrast, the North Koreans appeared relaxed and confident during training on
Wednesday at Kim Il-Sung stadium, the venue for Friday's clash, although they
refused to speak with the media.
But
the match was decided only in injury time and the North Koreans showed enough in
that encounter to indicate they will be a much more formidable force on home
soil and have a genuine chance to progress to Germany next year.
Bahrain
recruited Juricic's predecessor, German Wolfgang Sidka, to oversee the team's
matches against Iran and Japan on March 30.
However
Sidka did express concern about the artificial turf surface at Kim Il-Sung
stadium.
With
Japan and Iran favourites to take the top two positions in Group B and thus gain
automatic entry into the World Cup finals next year, North Korea and Bahrain may
well be competing for the vital third placing.
North
Korea have played in the World Cup just once, in England in 1966 when they
famously beat Italy 1-0 on their way to the quarter-finals, eventually losing
5-3 to Portugal.
22
February 2005,
by Reuters
North Korea is poised to allow Japanese fans into the secretive
communist state for the first time to watch a World Cup qualifier, the Japan
Football Association (JFA) said on Tuesday.
North
Korean officials have asked the JFA for the number of their fans expected to
make the trip.
Japan
claimed a fortuitous 2-1 victory over North Korea in a tense opening game
earlier this month. The JFA had allocated about 5,000 tickets to Japan-based
North Korean supporters.
11
February 2005,
by FIFAworldcup.com
After Nam Song-chol’s heroic equalizer had silenced the
blue-clad crowd of 59,000 in Tokyo’s Saitama Stadium, the visiting Korea DPR
side were only seconds from stunning the hosts by taking an away point in the
opening round of the Asian Zone’s qualifying finals for 2006 Germany.
Substitute Masahi Oguro was the man who rose deep into injury time to save Zico
and the team’s blushes. The match was almost a carbon copy of last
February’s 1-0 home win over Oman, the opening match of the second qualifying
stage, where Kubo scored the only goal in the last minute.
The
match was dubbed a “lucky victory” for Japan by the local media, but the
team’s Brazilian coach Zico breathed a sign of relief. “The three points are
vital and it's important that we build on this.” Japan extended their winning
record against Korea DPR after they had defeated their rivals 3-0 in a 1994 FIFA
World Cup qualifier in Doha.
For
Zico’s counterpart, coach Yun Jong-Su, who had prepared his team for two
months since last December, this was a bitter moment. “I don’t say we
can’t take defeat but it is painful to lose in such a way,” the rueful
43-year-old said.
A
tense-looking Ri Myong-sam needlessly tripped Alessandro Santos, and Mitsuo
Ogasawara stepped up to launch a powerful free-kick which flew past the Korean
wall before dipping into the bottom left hand corner. The Korea DPR keeper Sim
Sung-chol hardly even moved.
But the Koreans, with their sensational quarter-final finish in
1966 England still a fond memory for their supporters, struck back on the break.
Just
as things appeared to be going to coach Yun Jong-Su’s plan, Sim Sung-chol
again showed his inexperience to let the team’s point slip away. His weak
punch fell at the feet of Masahi Oguro, who turned well to send the ball home.
9 February
2005,
by FIFAworldcup.com
Japan’s Brazilian coach Zico’s policy of using home-based players paid off
again as two J-league players, Kashima Antlers midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara and
Kashiwa Reysol forward Masahi Oguro scored either side of half-time to secure
the home team a hard-won opening victory.
With
a backdrop of blue-cladded home supporters, dotted with small patches of
Japan-born Korean citizens with their national flags, Asia’s top ranked team
got off with a dream start. Japan were awarded a free-kick from the left for a
foul on Alessandro Santos by Korea DPR captain Ri Myong-sam, Ogasawara’s
curling kick flew past the defending wall before nestling in the bottom left of
the Korean goal.
Despite
the early blow, coach Yun Jong-Su’s young team hit back hard in the opening 24
minutes. Japan keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was quickly forced into action when
An Yong-hak fired in a low drive. But only three minutes later, Japan nearly
made it 2-0 when Keiji Tamada was only inches away from tapping in a loose ball
from close range.
The
experienced Japan side continued to push forward in their quest to double their
lead in the second half, while their rivals gradually found their feet with
speedy counter-attacks. Nam Song-chol hit a left-footed equalizer from a tight
angle on 61 minutes. The goal triggered an instant celebration and sparked
attacking waves from Korean side. With time ticking towards the end, Masahi
Oguro rose to score the winner that saved both Zico and his team’s blushes.
9
February 2005,
by Reuters
Substitute Masashi Oguro snatched an injury-time winner to give
Japan a lucky 2-1 victory over North Korea in the first match of the final round
of Asian World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday.
Japan took the lead in the fourth minute when Mitsuo Ogasawara curled in a free kick from 25 metres following North Korea captain Ri Myong-sam's trip on Brazilian-born Alex. North Korea equalised after 61 minutes when substitute Nam Song-chol smashed home a left-foot shot from an acute angle that beat goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi at his near post.
The
match was played amid tight security because of fears that bitter political
divisions between two countries could spill over.
Japan had mobilised nearly 3,500 police and security officials but the crowd of 59,000 respectfully applauded the North Korean national anthem before the match.
North
Korea fought back bravely after Ogasawara strike, and midfielder Mun In-guk's
diving header forced a superb save from Kawaguchi six minutes into the second
half. Nam's
equaliser, after a sweeping move, was the least North Korea deserved, though
substitute Naohiro Takahara squandered two gilt-edged chances to restore Japan's
lead before Ogura's late winner.
"North
Korea made it really difficult for us," Japan coach Zico said. "They
destroyed our rhythm and rushed us into errors but we kept battling until the
final whistle.
North
Korea had vanished from the international scene after their shock appearance in
the 1966 World Cup quarter-finals.
However,
the reclusive communist state has lavished cash, modern apartments and cars on
its players in a bid to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
8
February 2005,
by Reuters
Japan coach Zico insists his players will be ready for North
Korea's physical style when they meet in an Asian World Cup qualifier on
Wednesday.
"North
Korea are a strong team and will want to win as badly as we do so we must make
sure we keep our focus throughout," Zico said on Tuesday.
Asian
champions Japan beat Kazakhstan 4-0 and Syria 3-0 in two warm-up matches and
Zico is set to start with a Japan-based eleven for what will be a highly charged
encounter in Saitama.
Relations between the countries have been bitter since Japan's 1910-1945 colonisation of the Korean peninsula. Recently the issues of North Korea's nuclear arms ambitions and Japanese abductees have further strained ties. North Korea's footballers have done little since their shock run to the 1966 World Cup quarter-finals but they are intent on springing an upset in their Group B opener.
"We
haven't come here to lose," said North Korea's coach Yun Jong-su. "I
can't make any predictions but we've trained hard and are confident of giving a
good account of ourselves."
"My
lungs hurt there just from jogging," said Nagoya Grampus Eight's An Yong-hak,
who along with Hiroshima's Ri Han-jae is one of two J-League players in the
North Korea squad.
North
Korea's players were transported to secret training venues in China in a
blacked-out bus and they held a final session behind closed doors on Tuesday.
7
February 2005,
by Reuters
Japan will be wary of the threat posed by North Korea when they
meet in the opening match of the final round of Asian World Cup qualifiers on
Wednesday.
North
Korea have achieved little success on the pitch since their shock quarter-final
appearance at the 1996 World Cup.
But
they progressed to the final round of Asian 2006 qualifiers in some style and
the country's communist government has lavished cash, modern housing and luxury
cars on the players as an incentive to reach the 2006 World Cup.
"The
government gives them a colossal sum of (money), modern ... houses and luxurious
cars," Ri Hi-yon, the vice-director of North Korea's physical culture and
sports guidance commission said in an interview with the state-run KCNA news
agency. Security
will be on high alert for the game in Saitama amid concern that a diplomatic
feud between Tokyo and Pyongyang might spill over this week. Japan
has mobilised around 3,500 police and security officials to prevent any crowd
trouble.
Relations
between the countries have been bitter since Japan's brutal colonisation of the
Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. They
recently clashed over North Korea's nuclear arms ambitions and ties were further
strained after the reclusive state admitted it had kidnapped Japanese citizens.
INSIDER
KNOWLEDGE
North Korea's team arrived in Japan with useful insider knowledge. J-League
players An Yong-hak and Ri Han-jae are both expected to play against the country
of their birth.
Apart
from ethnic North Koreans An and Ri, North Korea's squad consists mainly of
members of the army team "4.25" -- named after the date on which the
Korean People's Army was founded.
28
January 2005,
by Reuters
South Korea's amazing run to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals
struck a nerve in communist North Korea.
Previously,
North Korea's shock quarter-final appearance at the 1966 tournament in England
had stood as Asia's best achievement at a World Cup. After
Dutchman Guus Hiddink led co-hosts South Korea to the last four in 2002,
officials in the North offered muted congratulations while pointedly reminding
the South that they had set the benchmark 36 years previously.
"Aside
from the political differences, there is a great sports rivalry between North
and South Korea," Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary
Peter Velappan told Reuters.
A
few months after the 2002 World Cup, reclusive North Korea launched a FIFA-sponsored
project to develop soccer in the impoverished country. It
has brought swift rewards, with North Korea through to the final round of Asian
2006 World Cup qualifying following their return from the wilderness.
They begin their campaign with a politically explosive clash against Asian champions Japan in Saitama on February 9. "It would be 40 years since North Korea first put Asian football on the map and they believe it is a good time for them to return to the limelight," said Velappan.
North
Korea stunned the world by reaching the 1966 World Cup quarter-finals, beating
Italy 1-0 on the way and taking a three-goal lead before bowing out to Portugal
5-3.
SURPRISE
RUN
Their run to the final round of 2006 qualifiers was also something of a
surprise, with North Korea edging out Thailand, Yemen and the United Arab
Emirates to win Group Five. Japan,
Iran and Bahrain represent a sterner challenge for North Korea in the deciding
round of qualifiers but with Asia's generous allotment of berths, they cannot be
counted out. The
top two teams from each group advance to the 2006 finals in Germany with the two
third-placed teams meeting in a two-legged playoff.
The
winner will then face a further playoff against a team from the CONCACAF zone to
earn a possible fifth Asian spot. Malaysian
Paul Mony, one of two development officers charged with establishing FIFA's
"Goal Project" in North Korea, praised the country's youth development
policy. "During
my many visits to Pyongyang, I have always seen active participation of youth
players as well as club teams," he said. "They
face many difficulties...because (the) stadiums cannot be used during heavy
winter conditions, which last around four to six months every year."
ARTIFICIAL
SURFACE
In late 2002, FIFA financed the renovation of the 100,000-capacity Kim Il-sung national stadium in the North Korean capital Pyongyang, laying a revolutionary artificial surface. A new training complex outside Pyongyang with a fully equipped gymnasium and a spacious building for the North Korean football association followed.
North
Korea's recent success has not been limited to men's football. Their women's
team are the Asian champions and the youth team have qualified for this year's
world under-17 championship in Peru. "It
shows that they really mean business," said Velappan. "The last few
years, they have really put a lot of emphasis on youth and the results are
paying dividends."
North Korean officials have also been working overtime to prepare for the final round of qualifying matches, earning praise from an AFC inspection team in Pyongyang last week. "We had a very good trip," competition director Carlo Nohra told Reuters. "We saw the stadium in daylight as well as at night to test the floodlights. If the best score is five, they'd get a four."
20
December 2004,
by AFP
Japanese star Shinji Ono is unlikely to join his national team
for a home World Cup qualifier against North Korea in February due to surgery on
his injured left ankle, news reports said Monday.
Ono
will go through surgery during the winter break up to January 23, Feyenoord
manager Ruud Gullit was quoted as saying by Japanese media.
The
surgery might force Ono, along with Fiorentina star Hidetoshi Nakata, to be
sidelined for Japan's first match in the last Asian round of qualifying for the
2006 World Cup, scheduled for February 9 at home against North Korea, the Nikkan
Sports daily said.
"We
must line up players in perfect condition to score the points for a win,"
Japan's coach Zico said last week.
Zico
has suggested he might drop Nakata from the North Korea game because of worries
he would not be in his best form.
Japan
were drawn into a "Group of Death" for the last round of Asian
qualifying. They face political nemesis North Korea, mighty Iran and
fast-improving Bahrain.
