Asia soccer chiefs issues ultimatum on W. Cup boycott

Asia soccer chiefs issues ultimatum on W. Cup boycott

BANGKOK (Reuters): Asian soccer chiefs on Tuesday gave FIFA until March to avert a regional boycott of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea by giving Asia the chance of an extra place in the finals.

After emergency talks in Bangkok, the Asian Football Confederation said it was willing to sacrifice one qualifying spot because of FIFA's decision to choose two co-hosts.

But it said there would be a boycott -- with Japan and South Korea exempted -- if FIFA refused to give the third-placed Asian qualifier the chance to play off against the top team from Oceania.

"All spoke out in favor of a boycott," Peter Velappan, AFC general secretary, told a news conference.

If Asia's team won a play-off, Asia would have five places in the finals instead of the four, including two for the co-hosts, that FIFA proposed earlier this month.

"You must understand that this is a very reasonable request," Velappan said.

"Let us maintain the status quo, which is three and a half, and from this we are willing to sacrifice one for the hosts, which is two and a half.

"So therefore what we are now asking is to please restore the half seat that has been taken away from us."

But he said the 2002 finals would go ahead, no matter what the outcome of the dispute between an outraged AFC and FIFA over the world body's decision on Dec. 4 to effectively reduce 44 Asian nations to competing for just two places in the finals.

"We will honor the responsibility of hosting the World Cup in 2002 in Japan and Korea," Velappan said. "Japan and South Korea will play. That is definite."

The two hosts qualify automatically for the finals, so when FIFA decided Asia should have four places, including the host slots, Asia blew up in rage.

At this year's World Cup, Asia had three guaranteed places, and earned another when Iran beat Australia in a play-off.

Unanimous

Velappan and other delegates said the 16 nations which met on Tuesday were unanimous, including Japan, about the boycott threat.

The South Korean was not present at the meeting and World Cup organizers and soccer officials in Seoul declined comment.

But Japanese delegate Tadao Okada confirmed he had backed it.

"Yes, we are members of the AFC and we will cooperate with AFC decisions and actions. The AFC has to keep its rights," he said.

"Japan and South Korea that both belong to the region of AFC are in the same position. We will respect the decision by AFC," Japan Football Association spokesman Hiroshi Onozawa told Reuters in Tokyo.

"It all depends on FIFA...We will calmly watch future talks between FIFA and AFC," he said.

The delegates to the Bangkok meeting all said they agreed FIFA's position was unfair.

"Asia has one third of the world's population. We have 46 members in FIFA, one quarter of the total. If you want a World Cup without one third of the world's population properly represented, it's unfair," said Manilal Fernando of Sri Lanka.

Velappan said the AFC would write immediately to FIFA President Sepp Blatter explaining Tuesday's decision and send a six-member delegation to Zurich to try to persuade him of the seriousness of the Asian position.

"We wish to inform him not to push us to take this drastic decision," he said. Asia last boycotted the World Cup 32 years ago over a similar dispute, although rogue state North Korea ignored that boycott.

"The FIFA executive committee meets in March and we demand it rescind the (Dec. 4) decision. If the (March) decision is not in our favor, the AFC executive committee will meet again to take the appropriate decision," Velappan said.

Australia was particularly upset by FIFA's decision because it said the Oceania winner, usually Australia, would have to play off against the fifth-placed South American side instead of an Asian team.

Australia has never beaten a leading South American team.