Surreal qualifier ends in draw
North and South Korea yesterday drew 0-0 in a historic but surreal World Cup qualifier, played in front of FIFA president Gianni Infantino but an otherwise empty stadium and almost completely blocked off from the outside world.
The showdown between the two sides -- whose countries are still technically at war -- took place at Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Stadium with no live broadcast, no supporters and no foreign media in attendance.
Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min captained South Korea in the first competitive men’s match to be played in Pyongyang. But frustrated South Korean fans who were not allowed to travel to the game, will have to wait days to see it on television -- after officials bring back a recording on DVD.
Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim booked North Korea’s Ri Yong Jik and Ri Un Chol, and Kim Young-gwon and Kim Min-jae from the South.
A photo posted on the website of the South’s Korean Football Association (KFA) showed the match in progress with giant floodlights illuminating the empty stands.
Comments