Let's see... 1988 Seoul Olympics, 71Kg Light Middleweight boxing finals, Si-Hun Park (SK) vs. Roy Jones (US). Park was getting beaten so bad he couldn't tell directions at the end of the match. The number of punches he landed one can count on one hand. Match winnder, Si-Hun Park (SK). Roy Jones was outraged. South Korea won a total of 3 boxing golds in Olympic history, 2 of which are in Seoul. Coincidence? World Cup 2002, SK vs. Portugal, final match of preliminary round. Portugal (needing only a draw to advance) had 2 players sent off, ensuring a SK victory and a place atop the group. 2nd round, SK vs. Italy. Italy, one of the favorites, had their star, Francesco Totti sent off, after having a goal called back by a very questionable offside. 3rd round, SK vs. Spain. Spain had two goals called off (both questionable on the ref's part), including a golden goal in overtime. The South Koreans then won on penalty and the Spanish team surrounded the refs after the match. Soccer analysts and reporters from all over the world (excluding SK of course) were outraged. German coach: if the South Koreans plan to win this way, they'll never be good. Interesting World Cup fact: South Koreans have NEVER EVER scored a goal in the World Cup before Korea 2002. Ironic?
I believe there was later some proof or at least strong evidence that in fact, as you say, bribery played a role in this particular incident. However, it is a known fact that homecourt advantage plays a large role in any kind of sports and that the host of Olympics or any major sporting event usually fares far better at that event than at other events they have participated in. Usually, that country gears up and prepares for that event more than they have ever done for any event, which includes more systematic training especially for this event, probably in many instances in the past also more doping, etc. Also, it is another known fact that many boxing bouts are fixed, no matter if South Koreans are involved or not, I believe this is more common in this sport than in most other sports. To make a generalized statement based on this that South Korea in particular has a history of bribing referees is pretty uncalled for, in my opinion. The quote you talk about, I do not believe at all that this quote is true. I am German and follow world cups religiously, and this kind of quote has definitely not been made by Rudi Völler or any other German coach. Regarding the other cases you cite - all of this can be based on other things like coincidence, conspiracy theory, homecourt advantage (a roaring crowd can indeed influence a referee to favor the home team), better performance at home, etc. I saw these games and I thought the conspiracy theories out of Italy were ridiculous, they were being sore losers. South Korea played a very good world cup and they deserved to advance as far as they went. Interesting World Cup fact: They scored two goals in 1998. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/02/en/pf/h/pwc/r/1998.html They scored four goals in 1994. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/02/en/pf/h/pwc/r/1994.html They scored one goal in 1990. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/02/en/pf/h/pwc/r/1990.html They scored four goals in 1986. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/02/en/pf/h/pwc/r/1986.html Come again. I do kind of wonder why you seem to hate that country so much.
SJC, home advantage or not, the South Koreans made soccer history and it's not just history of making it to the final four. Never in the history of the World Cup had a country have four goals against called back in three matches. Also, never in the history of the World Cup did a team have three controversial matches in a row, one at the quarter finals no less. You can argue the Italians were sore losers, but you can't argue that the Portugese, the Italians AND the Spanish are all sore losers and that the Germans were afraid of "South Korea The Team." So let's do go with your arguement that the Italians got outplayed (which if you watched the match you'd know it wasn't true, they just didn't capitalize), the Spanish certainly DIDN'T get outplayed. They just had two goals called back, one in OT. Soccer, being the most popular sport in the world, has a lot of stakes involved. One such stake is mob money through gambling. If the South Koreans tried to pull this in Italy '90, France '98 Germany '06 or to a lesser extent, USA '94, the refs would be found dead in their hotel rooms the next day. That my friend, is home field advantage. Let's move away from soccer for a second. How did Roy Jones lose that boxing match? I do not claim to be a boxing ref, but I can tell when one boxer is getting his ass handed to him. You also assume that I hate them as a people. To a small extent you may be right, for the reception I receive in Seoul. However, I'd like to think of myself as being above that and don't hold much grudge. Think of it this way, if we somehow change history and have Dream in his prime play Shaq in his prime. Dream playing the way he always does (aka no cheating) like he did and Shaq playing the way he always does (elbow shoulder headbut) and as a result the Lakers beat the Rockets in the NBA finals, how would you feel. I HATE TEAMS THAT HAVE TO RESORT TO CHEATING TO WIN. I read somewhere Rudi Voeller made that comment, although I can't recollect the source or I'd post a link, although I will admit to be wrong about them not scoring a goal. Guess I got carried away there.
Just curious what you were talking about when you said you got a bad reception in Korea, perhaps you could explain the circumstances? (although this would really derail this thread from its true purpose, namely begging for Tim to give out free hats to all of us!! )
It all depends on whether you choose to believe there was a conspiracy or not. 4 goals called off in three games straight, all in favor of one team, and 3 players kicked out, none on this same team, sounds pretty much like a conspiracy. I don't hate that country at all. I am just saying they don't play very fair when it comes to sports. For example, every time the Asian Olympic game is hosted out side of S. Korea, the golds Chinese and S. Korean win are about 2:1. But when it was hosted in S. Korea, the difference is marginal. Yeah, as you said, host countries have advantages, but are they enough to make difference so significant? The hosts can arrange refs that are friendly to them, or put opponents in remote hotels, or restrict opponents' access to practise facilities, or povide opponents food they are not used to, or in dozens of other ways. S. Koreans fully take these advantages. If you insists that these actions are legal and perfectly fair, I don't know what to say. Again, let me say it again. I don't hate that country at all. I have quite a few S. Korean friends. They love their country and they want to win very much. Maybe they want to win too much and that desire drives them to the extrem.
Yeah, I saw those world cups matches...South Korea is a big time cheater...pride of asia my a$s cheaters for real. it is like you shoot a wide open 3 pointer with time still left on the shot clock with no one even close to you, you make it in and then the refs say it doesn't count. that's b.s. isn't it? same thing what south korea refs did....rofl yeah that china vs. south korea match recently, yeah the south koreans played dirty and flopped so much it isn't funny sometimes chinese players didn't even touch them and they flop to the ground and china gets the foul. at other times, chinese players just barely, a small weak a$s touch, and the south korean players go flopping around and land on the ground like they just got hit by a bulldozer or a train..haha didn't you see that Yao's expression when the sk player flopped and try to get a foul on him? Yao though it was funny. if you are going to win, at least win with pride fair and square
Heh ... you mean one of those photochopped ones with the 100 foot wide hat sitting on top of the sphinx (lots of people sent me that one) or a real one? Maybe we can get a Korean soccer ref to wear one ... Tim
Real one, of course. I have been doing a trip around the world. Please take a look at my signature for a second if you don't believe me...
