Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Archived Boards => 2010 World Cup - South Africa => Topic started by: E-man on July 30, 2010, 12:43:39 PM
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North Korean football team shamed in six-hour public inquiry over World Cup
By Barney Henderson (Telegraph)
North Korea's football team has been shamed in a six-hour public inquisition and the team's coach has been accused of "betraying" the reclusive leader's heir apparent following their failure at the World Cup, according to reports.
The entire squad was forced onto a stage at the People's Palace of Culture and subjected to criticism from Pak Myong-chol, the sports minister, as 400 government officials, students and journalists watched.
The players were subjected to a "grand debate" on July 2 because they failed in their "ideological struggle" to succeed in South Africa, Radio Free Asia and South Korean media reported.
The team's coach, Kim Jong-hun, was reportedly forced to become a builder and has been expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea.
The coach was punished for "betraying" Kim Jong-un - one of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il's sons and heir apparent.
The country, in its first World Cup since 1966, lost all three group games – including a 7-0 defeat to Portugal.
The broadcast of live games had been banned to avoid national embarrassment, but after the spirited 2-1 defeat to Brazil, state television made the Portugal game its first live sports broadcast ever.
Following ideological criticism, the players were then allegedly forced to blame the coach for their defeats.
Only two players avoided the inquisition - Japanese-born Jong Tae-se and An Yong-hak, who flew straight to Japan after the tournament.
However, media in South Korea said the players got off lightly by North Korean standards.
"In the past, North Korean athletes and coaches who performed badly were sent to prison camps," a South Korean intelligence source told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.
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::)
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The team's coach, Kim Jong-hun, was reportedly forced to become a builder and has been expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea.
The coach was punished for "betraying" Kim Jong-un - one of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il's sons and heir apparent.
The North Korean regime isn't really that bad after all!
They punish you by giving you an honourable job as a builder to help you to build your country!
We need more governments in the world to behave like this! 8)
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This explains why the #9 was crying during the anthems for the Brazil match.
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This explains why the #9 was crying during the anthems for the Brazil match.
:rotfl: ;D
For what its worth, the commentator said he cries before the start of EVERY game. His tears didn't start at the World Cup...
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North Korea probed over claims World Cup flops were tortured after early exit from tournament
By Mail Foreign Service
Fifa has launched an investigation into allegations that the North Korean World Cup coach and players were punished by the government after they lost all three of their games in the tournament in South Africa.
Last month, Radio Free Asia said that the Korean squad, apart from two foreign-based players, were subjected to 'harsh ideological criticism' after their team conceded the most goals of all 32 at the tournament.
Their coach Kim Jong-hun was also publicly humiliated and sentenced to hard labour for their performance.
Tortured? The North Korea team, pictured before their game against Ivory Coast, were publicly humiliated after their exit from the World Cup
Tortured? The North Korea team, pictured before their game against Ivory Coast, were publicly humiliated after their exit from the World Cup
Punished: North Korea coach Kim Jong-Hun consoles one of his players after they went out of the World Cup
Punished: North Korea coach Kim Jong-Hun consoles one of his players after they went out of the World Cup
Fifa's president said a letter had been sent to North Korea's footballing body.
Sepp Blatter said: 'We sent a letter to the football federation to tell us about their election of a new president and to find out if the allegations made by the media that the coach and some players were condemned and punished are true.
'We are doing this as a first step and we will see how they answer.'
Claims: Fifa President Sepp Blatter has announced an investigation into claims the North Korean players were punished for the performances
Claims: Fifa President Sepp Blatter has announced an investigation into claims the North Korean players were punished for the performances
After starting only their second World Cup brightly with a 2-1 defeat to five-times champions Brazil, North Korea were then thrashed 7-0 by Portugal and easily beaten 3-0 by Ivory Coast.
Mr Blatter said the investigation was launched after Fifa executive committee member Chung Mong-joon, from South Korea, provided new information on the issue.
Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed Bin Hamman, who recently travelled to the secretive communist nation, said he was hopeful the investigation would prove conclusive.
'There was an unconfirmed report that these players have gone through torture or something like that, but I can't confirm that.
'I haven't seen anything with my eyes or heard anything with my ears. Maybe this Fifa investigation can clear the air.'
Mr Blatter, Mr Bin Hammam and Mr Chung were in Singapore to launch the football tournament at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1302110/Claims-North-Korea-World-Cup-squad-tortured-early-exit.html#ixzz0wPmHF5uL
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Different breed of animal.
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First comment: Where does the truth begin and end?
Second comment: the loyalties of several Japan-based Koreans to North Korea (known as "Zainichi Chosenjin") remains a provocative reality that has surprisingly not taken on the sort of traction other disputes of a similar nature have ... well, at least in terms of the global conscience.
A few years ago - when revelations of North Korean kidnappings of Japanese citizens surfaced - this Japanese-based Korean community rode the storm. It's a really interesting historical and political circumstance somewhat akin to the experience of 'stateless persons' ... yet clearly, both of these ballers have identifed their state.