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Japan against China as venue for World Cup Football qualifier against N Korea
OUR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
May 1, 2005: Japan has rejected the move to play the World Cup qualifier against North Korea in China. Its football association chief said he would reject any move to stage North Korea's World Cup qualifier in China. This follows crowd unrest at previous matches played in Pyongyang, North Korea.
FIFA has decided to play the June 8 qualifier North Korea-Japan match in a third country, without spectators. Japan worries it could be China, which is currently having tensions with Japan.
Recently, there have been violent anti-Japanese protests in China, against what is termed as Japan's perception and depiction of its violent World world War II past.
Since the riots in China, both countries have come closer, with Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi tendering an apology at an international meetng for Japan's aggressive past and the pain it inflicted on its Asian neighbours. But the embers, it appears, are still to down.
"We will express our wish to FIFA and Malaysia would be the best," said Saburo Kawabuchi, Japan football association president. "I feel that a problem would arise if it is played in China. China is a neighbour and close ally of North Korea.
FIFA has said that it would name the substitute venue to North Korea in due course and its decision can be appealed within three days. It also fined the North Korean Football Association USD16,800 for the misbehaviours at the Pyongyang matches.
OUR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
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