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Thailand to host Japan-N. Korea match
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-08 09:41 Thailand will host the World
Cup qualifying match between Japan and North Korea that FIFA ordered moved from
N. Korea because of fan violence.
Worawi Makudi, secretary-general of the Football Association of Thailand, on
Saturday said soccer's world governing body called the association on Wednesday
to ask whether the June 8 match could be held in the Southeast Asian nation.
"We called them back on Thursday, after I discussed it with our executive
committee ... to say we are OK to host this match," Worawi said.
The game is scheduled for Bangkok's Rajamangala National Stadium, barring any
changes by FIFA.
FIFA last week ordered that North Korea play the qualifier in a neutral
country as punishment for crowd trouble in the capital, Pyongyang, during its
2-0 loss against Iran in March, and complaints about refereeing in an earlier
loss against Bahrain.
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 apparently
was pulled down by an Iranian.
The Iran team and game officials were forced to remain in the stadium until
police and soldiers stopped the violence.
In addition to ordering the match moved, FIFA also fined the North Korean
soccer association $16,770.
On Friday, North Korea called on FIFA to reconsider its decision and "make a
wise judgment," repeating accusations of refereeing bias in earlier matches held
there.
North Korea's losses against Iran and Bahrain seriously jeopardize its
chances of qualifying for its first World Cup since 1966.
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