2 May 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (April 30): The Japanese--officials, players and fans alike--will be delighted with the news from Zurich that the World Cup qualifier against North Korea will be moved from Pyongyang and played at a neutral venue on June 8.

This was a brave move by FIFA, and also the correct one, as the behaviour of the North Korean fans and players was appalling in the recent game against Iran.

The new venue has not been announced yet, but it could be Kuala Lumpur, as suggested by JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi, or Singapore. These are the two favourites, but nothing has been decided.

This is surely a great relief for Japan, as it removes all the administration and logisitcal hassles of visiting Pyongyang.

But why did FIFA order the game to be played without spectators?

I think this is going too far, and imposing further financial penalties on the North Korean FA, who were also fined 20,000 Swiss Francs by FIFA.

Just think if the match takes place in Singapore.

Thousands of Japanese already living in south-east Asia would flock to that game, and so would thousands more from east Asia, including Hong Kong, and also, naturally, from Japan.

The Singaporeans love their football, too, and, like all football fans around the world, still have a soft spot for North Korea after their World Cup heroics in 1966.

There could be as many as 20,000 Japanese there, plus another 10,000 locals, to make a wonderful atmosphere at this neutral venue.

It would be like a home game for Japan, and maybe this is what FIFA is trying to guard against.

The decision to move the match from Pyongyang may already be viewed as pro-Japan and anti-North Korean at these delicate political times, and to create a second "home" match for Japan might be seen as going too far in favour of one side: the blue one.

Personally, though, I feel it would be much better to play the match at a neutral venue with spectators, and give the considerable amount of gate money to the North Korean FA.

The North Koreans have three days from Friday's announcement to appeal, and seven days to state their case in detail.

I hope they do appeal the "no spectators" decision, that Japan, if asked, supports them, and that FIFA allows spectators to watch the game, hopefully in Singapore.

But you can't have everything!

ends