Fifa reacts on happenings in Teheran and Pyongjang

By Lulu
April 30 2005

The Uefa has announced its verdicts for the happenings at Irans and North-Koreas last homegames in the WC-qualification. Some thrown bottles in Pyongjang have been judged very strict while several deaths in Teheran provoced only a mild reaction. Iran has to play their next WC qualifier game in Teheran in front not more than 50`000 spectators. This limitation of the Fifa is a reaction on happenings at Irans homegame vs. Japan: a masspanic in the with 120`000 spectators absolutely owercrowded Azadi-stadium costed the life of 7 fans and injured 40.

North-Korea has to play its next "homegame" vs. Japan at a neutral ground and under the exclusion of the public. This verdict of the Fifa is officially the reaction on riots at North-Koreas last homegame in the WC qualification, where infuriated fans threw bottles and seats at the syrian referee.
It is obvious that this is rather a political than a disciplinary decision... in Japans favour. The japanese FA has stated long before the riots in Pyongjang that they planned to collect enough points before their away game in North-Korea for avoiding this political difficult meeting, a goal they didnt achieve. The verdict of the Fifa is surely the result of the pressure of asias most influential FA.

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