Starving!, North Korean Asian Games National Team Players Bring Violence: Stealing Opponents' Drinks and Attacking the Referee

Starving!, North Korean Asian Games National Team Players Bring Violence: Stealing Opponents' Drinks and Attacking the Referee

Violent North Korean National Team Players at the Asian Games: Stealing Opponents' Drinks and Attacking the Referee

North Korean national team players protest the referee's decision in the 2022 Asian Games football match against Japan in Hangzhou, China, Sunday (1/10/2023). [Philip FONG/AFP]

- The 2022 Asian Games men's football quarter-final match resulted in a controversial incident involving a North Korea U-24 national team player stealing a Japanese player's drink bottle, even going so far as to attack the referee. 

Japan ultimately won the match 2-1 against North Korea on Sunday (1/10), with Kotaro Uchino's goal in the 50th minute opening for Japan, before Kim Kuk-bom scored the equalizer for North Korea in the 74th minute. 

The score only lasted six minutes before Japan was given a penalty by the referee. Yuta Matsumura executed the penalty well, ending the match with a score of 2-1 for Japan. 

Controversy arose when North Korean player, Kim Yu-song, tried to hit Japanese official staff during a short break in the match while a player was receiving treatment for an injury. 

While asking for a drink from the opposing team official, Yu-song is seen trying to hit for unknown reasons. The referee then gave Yu-song a yellow card. 

After the match, the North Korean players seemed emotional about the decisions made by referee Rustam Lutfullin, and were even seen crowding around and trying to attack the referee. 

North Korean players gathered around and attacked the referee, some even pushed him. The local committee (LOC) must take to the field to protect the referee. 

The North Korean players appeared angry at the referee's decision to award a penalty to Japan, which ultimately determined the outcome of the match. 

However, in a press conference, North Korea's coach, Sin Yong-nam, considered his players' protest to the referee as a normal action. 

"I admit our players were a little excited in this match but this is football," said Sin Yong-nam, quoted by Channel News Asia, Monday (2/10). 

Kelaparan!, Bringasnya Pemain Timnas Korea Utara Asian Games: Curi Minuman Lawan Hingga Serang Wasit

Beringasnya Pemain Timnas Korea Utara di Asian Games: Curi Minuman Lawan sampai Serang Wasit

Para pemain Timnas Korea Utara memprotes keputusan wasit pada laga sepak bola Asian Games 2022 kontra Jepang di Hangzhou, China, Minggu (1/10/2023). [Philip FONG / AFP]

- Pertandingan perempat final sepak bola putra Asian Games 2022 memunculkan insiden kontroversial yang melibatkan pemain Timnas Korea Utara U-24 yang mencuri botol minuman pemain Jepang, bahkan sampai menyerang wasit.

Jepang akhirnya memenangkan pertandingan 2-1 melawan Korea Utara pada Minggu (1/10), dengan gol Kotaro Uchino pada menit ke-50 jadi pembuka untuk Jepang, sebelum Kim Kuk-bom mencetak gol penyeimbang untuk Korea Utara pada menit ke-74.

Skor imbang hanya berlangsung enam menit sebelum Jepang diberi penalti oleh wasit. Yuta Matsumura menjalankan eksekusi penalti dengan baik, mengakhiri pertandingan dengan skor 2-1 untuk Jepang.

Kontroversi muncul saat pemain Korea Utara, Kim Yu-song, mencoba memukul staf ofisial Jepang saat pertandingan rehat sejenak saat ada pemain yang mendapat perawatan karena cedera.

Saat meminta minuman dari ofisial tim lawan, Yu-songterlihat mencoba memukul karena alasan yang tidak jelas. Wasit lantas memberikan kartu kuning pada Yu-song.

Setelah pertandingan, para pemain Korea Utara pun tampak emosi dengan keputusan-keputusan yang diambil wasit Rustam Lutfullin, bahkan terlihat mengerubungi dan coba menyerang sang pengadil.

Pemain Korea Utara berkerumun dan menyerang wasit, bahkan ada yang mendorongnya. Panitia lokal (LOC) harus turun ke lapangan untuk melindungi wasit tersebut.

Para pemain Korea Utara tampak marah atas keputusan wasit yang memberikan penalti kepada Jepang, yang akhirnya menjadi penentu hasil pertandingan.

Namun dalam konferensi pers, pelatih Korea Utara, Sin Yong-nam, menganggap protes para pemainnya kepada wasit sebagai tindakan yang wajar.

"Saya akui para pemain kami sedikit bersemangat dalam pertandingan ini tetapi inilah sepak bola," kata Sin Yong-nam dikutip dari Channel News Asia, Senin (2/10).