"He said the match against North Korea, planned to be played on September 14 in Delhi, has also been scrapped as the East Asian country did not confirm their visit to India.
"We are not going to play against North Korea. They are not coming. "
Times of India
26 August 2010
25 August 2010
FIFA Statement on Korea DPR
Following a request for information sent by FIFA to the Korea DPR Football Association on 11 August, FIFA can now confirm that it has received a letter from the Korea DPR Football Association as a reply to that request for information.
In the letter, the Korea DPR FA assures FIFA that Mr Kim Jong Hun, head coach of the national team, and all the other members of the national team are training as usual and that the members of the team will soon take part in the 16th Asian Games. The association also indicates that there were no sanctions to the coach and that the reports on this matter were baseless.
Furthermore, the Korea DPR FA clarified that the election of the president of the association held on 19 June was held in accordance with the statutes of the association and were not affected by any result of the team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, recalling that at the time of the election the team had only played one match against Brazil and had shown a good level of play.
With all of the information at hand, and having checked all of its sources, FIFA has decided to close the matter.
fifa.com
In the letter, the Korea DPR FA assures FIFA that Mr Kim Jong Hun, head coach of the national team, and all the other members of the national team are training as usual and that the members of the team will soon take part in the 16th Asian Games. The association also indicates that there were no sanctions to the coach and that the reports on this matter were baseless.
Furthermore, the Korea DPR FA clarified that the election of the president of the association held on 19 June was held in accordance with the statutes of the association and were not affected by any result of the team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, recalling that at the time of the election the team had only played one match against Brazil and had shown a good level of play.
With all of the information at hand, and having checked all of its sources, FIFA has decided to close the matter.
fifa.com
FIFA ends probe into North Korean football
ZURICH (AP)—FIFA has ended a probe into North Korean football after accepting an explanation from Pyongyang that the national team coach and players were not disciplined after losing all three matches at the World Cup.
FIFA says it has “checked all of its sources” and closed the matter.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter opened an investigation two weeks ago after unconfirmed reports from North Korea alleged coach Kim Jong Hun and his players were mistreated after returning home from South Africa in June.
FIFA says the North Korean football federation has written explaining the team is “training as usual” and will soon play at the Asian Games.
The federation tells FIFA the reports were “baseless” and Kim was not sanctioned.
FIFA says it has “checked all of its sources” and closed the matter.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter opened an investigation two weeks ago after unconfirmed reports from North Korea alleged coach Kim Jong Hun and his players were mistreated after returning home from South Africa in June.
FIFA says the North Korean football federation has written explaining the team is “training as usual” and will soon play at the Asian Games.
The federation tells FIFA the reports were “baseless” and Kim was not sanctioned.
FIFA dismiss North Korea witchhunt claims
* Public shaming did not take place - FIFA
* FIFA say North Korean FA elections lawful (adds FA elections)
By Brian Homewood
ZURICH, Aug 25 (Reuters) - FIFA has dismissed allegations that North Korea’s coach and players were punished for losing all three of their games at this year’s World Cup.
Asian media reported the side had been publicly shamed after returning from South Africa having conceded 12 goals in the first round. Soccer’s governing body FIFA insisted it was business as usual for North Korea and that no such witchhunt had taken place.
“The (North Korean) FA assures FIFA that Mr Kim Jong-hun, head coach of the national team, and all the other members of the national team are training as usual,” FIFA said in a statement.
“The association also indicates that there were no sanctions to the coach and that the reports on this matter were baseless.
“With all of the information at hand, and having checked all of its sources, FIFA has decided to close the matter.”
North Korea lost 2-1 to Brazil, were humiliated 7-0 by Portugal and easily beaten 3-0 by Ivory Coast at the World Cup.
Radio Free Asia and South Korean media claimed Kim and his team were forced onto a stage at the People’s Palace of Culture in front of 400 government officials, students and journalists.
Reports said the players were subjected to six hours of criticism for their performance at the World Cup, their first appearance since 1966.
ELECTION FAIR
FIFA added that an election for the president of the North Korea FA was also considered to be within its rules.
“The (North Korean) FA clarified that the election of the president of the association held on 19 June was held in accordance with the statutes of the association and were not affected by any result of the team at the World Cup,” said FIFA.
“At the time of the election the team had only played one match against Brazil and had shown a good level of play.”
yahoo.com
* FIFA say North Korean FA elections lawful (adds FA elections)
By Brian Homewood
ZURICH, Aug 25 (Reuters) - FIFA has dismissed allegations that North Korea’s coach and players were punished for losing all three of their games at this year’s World Cup.
Asian media reported the side had been publicly shamed after returning from South Africa having conceded 12 goals in the first round. Soccer’s governing body FIFA insisted it was business as usual for North Korea and that no such witchhunt had taken place.
“The (North Korean) FA assures FIFA that Mr Kim Jong-hun, head coach of the national team, and all the other members of the national team are training as usual,” FIFA said in a statement.
“The association also indicates that there were no sanctions to the coach and that the reports on this matter were baseless.
“With all of the information at hand, and having checked all of its sources, FIFA has decided to close the matter.”
North Korea lost 2-1 to Brazil, were humiliated 7-0 by Portugal and easily beaten 3-0 by Ivory Coast at the World Cup.
Radio Free Asia and South Korean media claimed Kim and his team were forced onto a stage at the People’s Palace of Culture in front of 400 government officials, students and journalists.
Reports said the players were subjected to six hours of criticism for their performance at the World Cup, their first appearance since 1966.
ELECTION FAIR
FIFA added that an election for the president of the North Korea FA was also considered to be within its rules.
“The (North Korean) FA clarified that the election of the president of the association held on 19 June was held in accordance with the statutes of the association and were not affected by any result of the team at the World Cup,” said FIFA.
“At the time of the election the team had only played one match against Brazil and had shown a good level of play.”
yahoo.com
24 August 2010
North Korea's Jong shines for Bochum
Jong Tae Se appears to be an instant hit as the first North Korean in professional German football.
Jong, 26, struck twice as VfL Bochum opened their second-division campaign on Monday night with a 3-2 victory over 1860 Munich. Until then, he was known in Germany for crying during his country's anthem ahead of the World Cup match against Brazil two months ago.
"Tears star Jong makes Bochum laugh again," said the Bild daily on its website on Tuesday, linking both events.
Bild spoke of "the first big Jong show" and Kicker sports magazine said Jong had "a classy performance" as he headed home in in the 38th and 46th and was also involved in Giovani Federico's 13th-minute opener.
"I am very happy because we won, and of course about my two goals as well," said Jong.
Super Sport
Jong, 26, struck twice as VfL Bochum opened their second-division campaign on Monday night with a 3-2 victory over 1860 Munich. Until then, he was known in Germany for crying during his country's anthem ahead of the World Cup match against Brazil two months ago.
"Tears star Jong makes Bochum laugh again," said the Bild daily on its website on Tuesday, linking both events.
Bild spoke of "the first big Jong show" and Kicker sports magazine said Jong had "a classy performance" as he headed home in in the 38th and 46th and was also involved in Giovani Federico's 13th-minute opener.
"I am very happy because we won, and of course about my two goals as well," said Jong.
Super Sport
21 August 2010
DPRK’s FIFA World Cup team to come to Vietnam
VietNamNet Bridge - The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has decided to send its national team to Vietnam to participate in the Thang Long-Hanoi Football Cup from September 20-24.
Earlier, DPRK planed to send its U-23 team to Vietnam to compete in the event, which will be held at Hanoi’s My Dinh stadium from September 20-24 to celebrate Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary.
The squad is expected to have 10-14 of the footballers who took part in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
The other two competitors will be the U23 Kuwait and U23 Australia teams. Kuwait and Australia confirmed that they will bring their best players to Vietnam.
Vietnam.net
Earlier, DPRK planed to send its U-23 team to Vietnam to compete in the event, which will be held at Hanoi’s My Dinh stadium from September 20-24 to celebrate Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary.
The squad is expected to have 10-14 of the footballers who took part in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
The other two competitors will be the U23 Kuwait and U23 Australia teams. Kuwait and Australia confirmed that they will bring their best players to Vietnam.
Vietnam.net
16 August 2010
India friendly in September
PANAJI: The mystery that the North Korean nation is extends to their friendly international football match against India. No one can tell quite surely if the hapless coach, Kim Jong-Hun, would be part of the touring party, but several of North Korea's stars are set to take part in a friendly against India.
North Korea had agreed to play a friendly at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi on September 14, their first soccer assignment since the World Cup in South Africa.
"North Korea have told our agent that they will play in India, but we are still waiting for them to officially write to us," All India Football Federation general secretary, Alberto Colaco, told TOI on Sunday. "If North Korea confirm the friendly, it will be against their senior team," said Colaco, making it clear that a junior side, or a reserve team, from the DPR Korea Football Association would not be acceptable.
Times of India
North Korea had agreed to play a friendly at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi on September 14, their first soccer assignment since the World Cup in South Africa.
"North Korea have told our agent that they will play in India, but we are still waiting for them to officially write to us," All India Football Federation general secretary, Alberto Colaco, told TOI on Sunday. "If North Korea confirm the friendly, it will be against their senior team," said Colaco, making it clear that a junior side, or a reserve team, from the DPR Korea Football Association would not be acceptable.
Times of India
13 August 2010
N.Korean Football Coach 'Given 2nd Chance'
North Korean national football coach Kim Jong-hun is preparing for the Asian Cup next year, Open Radio for North Korea said Tuesday, quashing rumors that Kim was sent to a labor camp after a marathon public reprimand for losing all three of the country's World Cup matches.
Rumors that the coach and players were severely punished in the wake of the North's 0-7 rout by Portugal prompted FIFA to write to North Korea's football federation asking for an explanation.
But the radio station cited a North Korean source as saying Kim and the players are in intense training at the Ri Myong Su Stadium. Although the coach tendered his resignation after the World Cup, the party leadership decided to give him another chance.
The Ri Myong Su Stadium is the only stadium with natural grass in Pyongyang. A Nearby Army rifle range means it is effectively off-limits to the public.
The training is likely geared towards the Asian Cup in Qatar next January, Open Radio said. North Korea is in Group D with Iran, Iraq and the UAE, all tough opponents.
The Choson Ilbo
Rumors that the coach and players were severely punished in the wake of the North's 0-7 rout by Portugal prompted FIFA to write to North Korea's football federation asking for an explanation.
But the radio station cited a North Korean source as saying Kim and the players are in intense training at the Ri Myong Su Stadium. Although the coach tendered his resignation after the World Cup, the party leadership decided to give him another chance.
The Ri Myong Su Stadium is the only stadium with natural grass in Pyongyang. A Nearby Army rifle range means it is effectively off-limits to the public.
The training is likely geared towards the Asian Cup in Qatar next January, Open Radio said. North Korea is in Group D with Iran, Iraq and the UAE, all tough opponents.
The Choson Ilbo
North Korea investigated for punishing World Cup soccer team
Reporting from Beijing and Seoul — World Cup soccer officials are investigating reports that North Korea's outmatched national soccer team faced punishment by government officials back home after losing all three of its matches in South Africa.
Sepp Blatter, president of the International Federation of Association Football, or Fifa, said this week that the organization had received tips that players and coaches "have been condemned or punished" after an embarrassing appearance in which they conceded the most goals of all 32 teams in the tournament.
World soccer officials have sent a letter to the North Korean football federation about the allegations. "The first step is the federation and we'll see what the answer will be, and then we can elaborate on that," Blatter told reporters in Singapore on Wednesday.
In June, television images showed a dejected North Korean coach Kim Jong-Hun consoling players after the team was trounced 7-0 by Portugal, the last of three demoralizing losses. Playing in the tournament for the first time since 1966, the team had previously suffered defeats to Brazil and Ivory Coast.
Radio Free Asia reported that the team -- except for Japan-born Jong Tae-se and Ahn Young-hak -- was summoned to Pyongyang for "harsh ideological criticism." The report added that the players were ordered to reprimand Coach Kim, who was then sentenced to hard labor for the team's failings.
The players also faced a public scolding by more than 400 students and sports fans, according to reports.
North Korea's state-run news service has been silent about the allegations, which the radio station said were made by unidentified sources in North Korea and a Chinese businessman described as knowledgeable about North Korea affairs.
Soccer officials also considered claims made by Chung Mong-Joon, the former Hyundai chairman and president of the South Korean Football Association. Reached in Seoul on Thursday, South Korean soccer officials said they have no information about their counterparts in the north.
Asian Football Confederation chief Mohammad bin Hammam this week told reporters that he spoke to four North Korean players last month, and that they did not mention mistreatment.
"There was an unconfirmed report that these players have gone through torture or something like that, but…I haven't seen anything with my eyes or heard anything with my ears," he said.
The team's poor showing publicly embarrassed the officials in the secretive state, who had planned to ban the broadcast of the live soccer games to avoid ridicule.
But after the close 2-1 loss to Brazil, state TV made the Portugal match its first live sports broadcast ever.
The torture of disgraced national athletes has precedent. Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday reportedly tortured members of Iraq's national soccer team following embarrassing losses.
One analyst on North Korean said Thursday that that punishing sports players and coaches for poor performances was a low to which even Kim Jong-il would not stoop.
"I don't think the North Korean government, however a despotic state it may be, would do such a thing resulting from an outcome of a football match," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
"I'm sure there could have been precedence of such punishment, but I'm not aware of any."
Los Angeles Times
Sepp Blatter, president of the International Federation of Association Football, or Fifa, said this week that the organization had received tips that players and coaches "have been condemned or punished" after an embarrassing appearance in which they conceded the most goals of all 32 teams in the tournament.
World soccer officials have sent a letter to the North Korean football federation about the allegations. "The first step is the federation and we'll see what the answer will be, and then we can elaborate on that," Blatter told reporters in Singapore on Wednesday.
In June, television images showed a dejected North Korean coach Kim Jong-Hun consoling players after the team was trounced 7-0 by Portugal, the last of three demoralizing losses. Playing in the tournament for the first time since 1966, the team had previously suffered defeats to Brazil and Ivory Coast.
Radio Free Asia reported that the team -- except for Japan-born Jong Tae-se and Ahn Young-hak -- was summoned to Pyongyang for "harsh ideological criticism." The report added that the players were ordered to reprimand Coach Kim, who was then sentenced to hard labor for the team's failings.
The players also faced a public scolding by more than 400 students and sports fans, according to reports.
North Korea's state-run news service has been silent about the allegations, which the radio station said were made by unidentified sources in North Korea and a Chinese businessman described as knowledgeable about North Korea affairs.
Soccer officials also considered claims made by Chung Mong-Joon, the former Hyundai chairman and president of the South Korean Football Association. Reached in Seoul on Thursday, South Korean soccer officials said they have no information about their counterparts in the north.
Asian Football Confederation chief Mohammad bin Hammam this week told reporters that he spoke to four North Korean players last month, and that they did not mention mistreatment.
"There was an unconfirmed report that these players have gone through torture or something like that, but…I haven't seen anything with my eyes or heard anything with my ears," he said.
The team's poor showing publicly embarrassed the officials in the secretive state, who had planned to ban the broadcast of the live soccer games to avoid ridicule.
But after the close 2-1 loss to Brazil, state TV made the Portugal match its first live sports broadcast ever.
The torture of disgraced national athletes has precedent. Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday reportedly tortured members of Iraq's national soccer team following embarrassing losses.
One analyst on North Korean said Thursday that that punishing sports players and coaches for poor performances was a low to which even Kim Jong-il would not stoop.
"I don't think the North Korean government, however a despotic state it may be, would do such a thing resulting from an outcome of a football match," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
"I'm sure there could have been precedence of such punishment, but I'm not aware of any."
Los Angeles Times
11 August 2010
03 August 2010
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