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Monday, 5 February, 2001
Japan back down in World Cup Row
Japan have apparently backed down in a row with World Cup 2002 co-hosts South Korea in a row over which country's name should appear first on tickets.
The dispute had been threatening to escalate after South Korean fans staged protests outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul.
A dozen demonstrators called for Japan to be stripped of the right to hold next summer's tournament final unless they agree to use the word "Korea" ahead of "Japan" on ticket application forms.
The protests followed threats by South Korean football chiefs to lodge an official protest with Fifa over Japan's behaviour.
But Japan has reportedly suggested a compromise, agreeing to print Korea before Japan in all official documents in English
Reuters news agency says the Japanese football authorities have backed down after receiving "guidance" from Fifa.
An official from the Japanese World Cup Organising Committee (JAWOC) announced that the words "Japan" and "Korea" written in the Japanese language will both be deleted from the ticket application guide for domestic use.
Reuters quotes an official of JAWOC saying: "We have never changed, tried to change and will never change the official title. We accept the official title decided by Fifa as a matter of course."
The tournament will be called the "2002 Fifa World Cup".
It is not clear whether South Korea will be satisfied with these measures.
South Korea were angered when Japan appeared set to break a 1996 Fifa agreement which granted the prestigious tournament final to the Japanese capital Tokyo, but officially named the competition as "2002 Fifa World Cup Korea/Japan". If South Korea are still disatisfied by the Japanese compromise, the row is likely to be settled by Fifa at a meeting on March 15.
Copyright ﾂｩ BBC Sport
Japan back down in World Cup Row
Japan have apparently backed down in a row with World Cup 2002 co-hosts South Korea in a row over which country's name should appear first on tickets.
The dispute had been threatening to escalate after South Korean fans staged protests outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul.
A dozen demonstrators called for Japan to be stripped of the right to hold next summer's tournament final unless they agree to use the word "Korea" ahead of "Japan" on ticket application forms.
The protests followed threats by South Korean football chiefs to lodge an official protest with Fifa over Japan's behaviour.
But Japan has reportedly suggested a compromise, agreeing to print Korea before Japan in all official documents in English
Reuters news agency says the Japanese football authorities have backed down after receiving "guidance" from Fifa.
An official from the Japanese World Cup Organising Committee (JAWOC) announced that the words "Japan" and "Korea" written in the Japanese language will both be deleted from the ticket application guide for domestic use.
Reuters quotes an official of JAWOC saying: "We have never changed, tried to change and will never change the official title. We accept the official title decided by Fifa as a matter of course."
The tournament will be called the "2002 Fifa World Cup".
It is not clear whether South Korea will be satisfied with these measures.
South Korea were angered when Japan appeared set to break a 1996 Fifa agreement which granted the prestigious tournament final to the Japanese capital Tokyo, but officially named the competition as "2002 Fifa World Cup Korea/Japan". If South Korea are still disatisfied by the Japanese compromise, the row is likely to be settled by Fifa at a meeting on March 15.
Copyright ﾂｩ BBC Sport
