South Korea rejects World Cup criticism

South Korea rejects World Cup criticism

SEOUL (AFP): South Korean World Cup organizers said yesterday
they were not taking seriously criticism made by FIFA general
secretary Sepp Blatter of preparations for the 2002 finals.

The first World Cup final to be held in Asia was jointly
awarded to South Korea and Japan after months of bitter rivalry
between the two. But Blatter warned this has not died down and
that the International Football Federation (FIFA) may have to
award the event to another country.

Japanese football officials would not comment, saying they
were still waiting to see Blatter's interview with World Soccer
magazine. They denied that FIFA had made any official complaint.

But an official at the Office of Preparation for the 2002
World Cup in Seoul said South Korean organizers were taking
Blatter's comments as "personal" and "not serious."

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said there was enough
time for South Korea and Japan to resolve their differences.

"We believe such differences are not so serious and can be
solved through negotiations.

"It was Blatter's personal opinion and not the FIFA's formal
decision or warning which we have to heed," he said.

The official said that disputes with Japan should not get
worse. But he warned that if they did, it would give the wrong
signal and undermine preparations.

Sensitive

Disputes over the preparations have become so sensitive,
because of wrangling between South Korea and Japan before the
finals were awarded this year, that FIFA has cautioned the two
nations about making statements in public.

Blatter called on Japan and South Korea to forget their
differences and get down to working together for the 2002 World
Cup.

"I must say that the countries are not only not coming closer,
it's quite the opposite. They are moving further apart. This is
not the marriage we want, " Blatter told World Soccer magazine.

"There is no point in looking back over all the maneuvering,
even the politics of intimidation before the executive
committee's meeting in May," Blatter said.

"What with holidays and other engagements it has been
difficult enough to arrange even a date and venue for a meeting
between the representatives of the two countries, who may not be
the best of friends - and this is even before we come to the
substantive issues," he added.

A meeting is to be held in Zurich on November 6 and Blatter
said before then FIFA intends to meet Japanese and Korean
officials to discuss how they plan to work together.

But he added: "It won't be easy. They cannot even agree on the
shape of the tournament.

"Japan, for instance, want perhaps 40 teams in the finals so
they have more matches in their cities - but the Koreans want
only 32 teams because they have envisaged only main host cities
hosting matches."

Among many other matters still to be decided is where the
final will be played. One suggestion was for Japan and South
Korea to play each other, with the winner deciding the venue.

Blatter warned 2002 would be the last time the tournament was
hosted jointly.

"We are learning to appreciate the reasons for one country
even more in this present situation regarding 2002," he said.