By: Writing
By: Writing
North Korea does not intend to participate in the remaining qualification for the World Cup in Qatar 2022 , as reported today by the South Korean federation (KFA), which must host in June all the pending matches of the group in which the North Koreans are framed .
Last minute 🚨
The North Korean soccer federation has shown its intention to renounce participation in the qualifiers, sending a document to the AFC to announce your resignation from this competence. So far the AFC has not responded. pic.twitter.com/1u91 BlQuwb– Football in North Korea 🇰🇵 ⚽ (@futbolrpdc)
May 3, 2021
According to KFA sources cited by the agency From Yonhap news, the North Korean Federation (PRKFA) sent the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) a document declaring their intention not to participate.
Due to the pandemic, it was decided that the remaining eight games of Group H (which includes the two Koreas, Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan) from l to the second round of AFC qualifying for Qatar 2022 must be played in South Korea between the 3rd and the 15 next June.
Although the two Koreas are still technically at war and the possibility that the Northerners to play games in the South seemed difficult in itself, Yonhap affirms that the reason for the North Korean withdrawal would be the fear of their players catching COVID – 19 and bring the virus back to the impoverished country.
Due to the pandemic, Korea del Norte has closed its borders to human trafficking since January 2020.
As the months have passed, the country has further tightened restrictions to an almost paranoid level, greatly limiting imports from China (for fear that they are infected) and ordering its army that shoots anyone who approaches its border.
In the absence of playing another three games to conclude its participation in the second round, North Korea was fourth (out of five) in Group H , but had options to qualify as they were tied at eight points with Lebanon and South Korea (with one match less) and only one from Turkmenistan, leader with 9 points.