Where Did All the Fans Go?
North Korea and Japan played each other in a World Cup qualifying game in Bangkok, Thailand last night. What was unusual about this game is the fact that no fans were allowed to attend due to North Korean fan violence during a match against Iran..
In a rare move, the World Cup governing body FIFA moved the game from Pyongyang to Bangkok to punish North Korea after unruly crowd behavior during the country’s game against Iran in Pyongyang in March.
But if that isn’t strange enough, no spectators will be allowed to watch the game at the Supachalasi stadium.
A security force of 150 will be deployed to ensure the match is trouble free, sealing off roads leading to the stadium, Japanese newspaper The Daily Yomiuri’s Web site reported.
Nearly 500 members of the Japanese press and thousands of supporters are expected to watch the match from outside and in nearby hotels.
Japan defeated North Korea 2-0 to qualify for the World Cup.
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) – Japan defeated North Korea 2-0 at Bangkok on Wednesday to qualify for next year’s soccer World Cup.
Late goals by Atsushi Yanagisawa in the 73rd minute and substitute Masashi Oguro in the 88th minute gave Japan the win and made it the first team to join host Germany at the 2006 finals.
