Japan, S. Korea World Cup row over<\/p>\n
ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP): South Korea and Japan kicked into
\ntouch their traditional bitterness here Wednesday to agree on all
\nkey points on cohosting the 2002 World Cup, including who would
\nstage the final.<\/p>\n
The showpiece final will be held in Tokyo but the opening
\nceremony and opening match, featuring World Cup holder Brazil,
\nwill be in Seoul, a FIFA (the world soccer body) source
\nconfirmed.<\/p>\n
The tournament will be known as the 2002 World Cup Korea-
\nJapan.<\/p>\n
According to sources at the three-hour meeting between the two
\ncountries and a special six-man FIFA committee, it was originally
\nproposed to put Japan ahead of Korea in the title but the Koreans
\ndug their heels in and refused to budge.<\/p>\n
FIFA had put a strict gag order on the two sides, planning to
\nannounce details of the agreement only when it is formally
\nratified by the executive committee meeting in Barcelona early
\nnext month.<\/p>\n
But within hours details were leaked.<\/p>\n
Neither side looked particularly happy after the sometimes
\ntense meeting with the FIFA committee headed by Sweden's Lennart
\nJohansson.<\/p>\n
\"I am not unhappy, nor am I happy,\" said Ken Naganuma,
\npresident of the Japanese Football Association.<\/p>\n
\"Our aim is to work together,\" commented Chung Moon-Jong, head
\nof the Korea delegation.<\/p>\n
According to one source there was a moment during the meeting
\nwhen members of one of the delegations were on the verge of
\nwalking out.<\/p>\n
\"It was very tense. FIFA put forward a certain plan that one
\nside took as a direct slight against them. Luckily a quick
\ncompromise was found otherwise the meeting could have ended in
\ndisaster,\" said the source.<\/p>\n
\"The agenda was very much forced through by the FIFA
\ncommittee. A lot of things they simply forced the two sides to
\nagree on,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Japanese hopes of having the number of teams in the final
\nincreased to 40 from the 32 that will take part in the 1998 World
\nCup in France was firmly rejected by FIFA.<\/p>\n
Japan also pleaded for the majority of matches but it was
\nfinally agreed that both nations would have 16 games apiece.<\/p>\n
Enemies<\/p>\n
Wednesday's accord put to rest fears that the two countries,
\nlong time historical enemies, would ever be able to reach
\nagreement.<\/p>\n
Last month FIFA general secretary Sepp Blatter warned that the
\n2002 World Cup was heading for disaster.<\/p>\n
\"The countries are not only not coming closer, it's quite the
\nopposite. They are moving further apart. This is not the marriage
\nwe want,\" said Blatter.<\/p>\n
But at a straight talking private lunch hosted by Japan, the
\ntwo rivals, forced into cohosting by FIFA president Joao
\nHavelange last May after the bitterest bidding battle in World
\nCup history, agreed to work firmly together.<\/p>\n
Chung is believed to have got assurances from the Japanese
\nthat they would fully inform South Korea of any future
\ndiscussions they might have with FIFA.<\/p>\n
The Koreans had been upset by a confidential memo sent by
\nJapan to selected executive committee members laying out a list
\nof their demands and suggestions.<\/p>\n
Although the memo was dated Sept. 18, the Koreans only
\ndiscovered its existence at the beginning of this week.<\/p>",
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