Asia seeking five Cup places

Thu, 27 Jun 2002, 00:00 WIB | Source: REUTERS

TOKYO: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), boosted by South
Korea's surprise progress to the World Cup semifinals, has
repeated its demand for the continent to be given five places in
the 2006 finals in Germany.

AFC general secretary Peter Velappan, pointing to Korea's feat
plus Japan's progress to the second round, said on Wednesday his
organization would ask world governing body FIFA after Sunday's
final to raise the number of guaranteed places for Asia.

In addition to co-host South Korea -- beaten 1-0 by Germany in
Tuesday's first semi-final -- and Japan, both China and Saudia
Arabia also qualified for this year's finals from Asia.

The continent also had the chance of a another spot through a
playoff with a European team but Iran lost out to Ireland.
--Reuters

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