N.Korea Wants to Move World Cup Qualifier

N.Korea Wants to Move World Cup Qualifier

North Korea is apparently hoping to relocate the venue for the World Cup qualifier for the 2010 World Cup against South Korea, which is scheduled to be held in Seoul on June 22. The homepage of the Asia Football Confederation reported on Tuesday that North Korea’s Football Association vice president Son Kwang-ho visited the AFC Office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday to discuss “a number of footballing matters with AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam, including the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup match against Korea Republic in Seoul on June 22, 2008.” The Korea Football Association has not been officially notified of the details of the discussion between Son and Bin Hammam. In March, in another qualifier game between South and North Korea originally planned for Pyongyang was moved to Shanghai, China after North Korea violated FIFA regulations by refusing to raise the South Korean flag and play the South’s national anthem. North Korea insisted on raising the unified Korean Peninsula flag and playing the famous folk tune “Arirang” instead. It now argues that the return match should therefore also be played in another country. A KFA official said the proposal to move a home game for South Korea will not be acceptable under FIFA rules. “North Korea will not take it too far as to risk being declared the loser without a match if they don’t come to Seoul,” he said. (englishnews@chosun.com )