By Xinhua
Seoul : South Korea’s Football Association (KFA) says FIFA has proposed to hold the 2010 football World Cup qualifying match between South Korea and North Korea in Shanghai, China, instead of Pyongyang.
The proposal came Friday amid dispute between Seoul and Pyongyang over whether South Korea’s national anthem and flag should be used during the qualifier, which was originally be held in Pyongyang this month.
North Korea suggested last month that the two sides use a neutral flag depicting the Korean Peninsula and play the popular traditional folk song “Arirang” at the match rather than use the two countries’ respective national anthems and flags.
However, South Korea insisted on using its national anthem and flag and asked FIFA, the game’s world governing body, to resolve the problem after the two sides failed to reach a compromise. FIFA proposed to hold the match in Shanghai March 26, the KFA said. The KFA didn’t mention whether the DPRK side accepted the proposal.
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FIFA approves Chilean stadium
Santiago: FIFA has approved Chile’s Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso Stadium in Coquimbo for under-20 women’s World Cup games.
Chuck Blazer, a US citizen and in charge of the under-17 and under-20 organizing commission for the women’s World Cup games, visited the stadium accompanied by Chilean soccer federation president Harold Mayne-Nicholls.
Mayne-Nicholls said Chilean President Michelle Bachelet’s government has promised to have those stadiums ready on time and “when she promises something, the whole country does”.
The stadium will have many improvements that will be ready by Sep 19, including an automatic irrigation system and it will also have a 20,000-seat capacity.
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Mexican soccer coach gets ready for CONCACAF pre olympics
Mexico City: Mexico’s national soccer team coach Hugo Sanchez has picked a 20-member squad that will take part in the North American, Caribbean Soccer Confederation (CONCACAF) pre-Olympic tournament prior to seeking a pass to Beijing Olympic Games in August.
CONCACAF’s pre-Olympic tournament will be played March 11-23 in many cities of the US and it offers two passes for Beijing 2008. Mexico in Group B will face Canada, Guatemala and Haiti, March 12, 14 and 16 in Carson city, California. Meanwhile, the US will play against Cuba, Honduras and Panama.