Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Soccer World Cup MLS Euro Champions League etc -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ed Huang who wrote (1637)	6/20/2002 10:58:22 AM
From: George Papadopoulos	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5130

Caution: Bold text may induce extreme laughter fits<g> Asians ready to blacklist Italian team over Ahn dispute By ERICA BULMAN Associated Press Writer June 20, 2002 YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) -- A South Korean's game-winning World Cup goal against Italy has set off a furor between his Italian club team and the Asian Football Confederation. After Ahn Jung-hwan scored the overtime goal to eliminate Italy on Tuesday night, the owner of Perugia of the top Italian division said Ahn would be cut. That angered the confederation, which threatened to blacklist Perugia if the team gets rid of Ahn, meaning it would tell Asian players to stay away from the Italian club. ``I've warned all football officials in Japan, China and Korea about sending players to Perugia,'' confederation head Peter Velappan said Thursday. ``We are really outraged that Perugia would even consider terminating the contract of a superstar. It's such bad taste. ``I hope they cool down and come to their senses.'' South Korea coach Guus Hiddink also was angry. ``Do I have to tell them, 'Ahn, you are playing now but I must tell you, you must not make a goal.' If so, it's a childish reaction,'' he said. The heavily favored Italians were especially bitter about their loss to the co-host, their earliest exit from the tournament since 1986. The three-time champions blamed the loss on the officiating, upset that forward Francesco Totti got a questionable yellow card in overtime and was ejected because it was his second of the game. There was also a penalty shot awarded to the South Koreans and a disallowed Italian goal on an offside call. After Ahn scored, Perugia team owner Luciano Gaucci was quoted as saying he would cut the South Korean star. ``Enough! That guy will never again set foot in Perugia,'' Gaucci told La Gazzetta dello Sport of Milan. ``I am not going to pay the salary of a guy who has been the ruin of Italian soccer.'' [wait a minute, I thought it was the Ecuadorean ref....or FIFA......or an alien conspiracy! World soccer's governing body said it would not interfere in the dispute. ``Whether he is welcome back in Italy is entirely the business of the club chairman,'' FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper said. ``The relationship between the player and the club is entirely the business of the two parties. It has nothing to do with FIFA at this stage. ``However, a player has a right to score a goal for his country.'' [ROTFL....and I can't stop! Ahn has received support from Europe, as well, with leading British trade union GMB writing to the European Commission and the European soccer body UEFA, urging them to intervene. GMB, which represents players in Scotland and Northern Ireland, described the club's move as ``a shocking and blatant case of unfair dismissal.'' Ahn, who never made it as a regular in Perugia's starting lineup, scored five league goals in 30 appearances over two years with the club.