North Korea gets one-year regional ban

CNN - North Korea has been banned for a year and fined more than $8,000 for disrupting Asian Cup qualifying matches, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said Friday.

The AFC awarded Iran a 3-0 victory over North Korea after the visitors walked off the pitch during a Group D game in Tehran last month.


North Korea stormed off an hour into the match on November 12 and refused to return after one of their players was hit by a firecracker thrown from the crowd.

Jordan, which finished runner-up behind Iran in Group D, were also awarded a 3-0 win after they were unable to enter North Korea for their match in Pyongyang because of visa trouble.

The AFC said there would be a further fine imposed on the North Koreans for failing to turn up for their game against Lebanon in Beirut on Sept. 27.

North Korean officials had explained that the team bus had crashed on the way to Pyongyang airport.

The North Korean senior squad will not be able to play in competitions sanctioned by the AFC in 2004.

The AFC also fined Iran $10,000 for the crowd disturbances that led to the North Korean walk-off.

Iran had gone 1-0 ahead through an Ali Daei penalty moments before trouble flared at the 100,000-capacity Azadi stadium.

The 2004 Asian Cup takes place in China from July 17 to Aug. 7.