North Korea Name Striker As Third-Choice Goalkeeper – FIFA Says He Can Only Play In Goal

Ollie Irish

3rd, June 2010

8 Comments

By Ollie Irish

North Korea can fork with South Korea as much as they want (and they do want), but it seems they can’t get the better of mighty FIFA.

The North Koreans have been told by FIFA that Kim Myong-Won will only be able to play as a goalkeeper in the World Cup and not in his usual role as a striker.

In a not-so-cunning plan, North Korea head coach Kim-Jong Hun decided to name only two regular goalkeepers in his squad with Kim as a the back-up. Sneaky, huh? Well, no…

However, the move has backfired after FIFA confirmed that Kim will only be allowed to play as a goalkeeper, not as an outfield player. Unless there is an injury, no changes will be permitted to their final squad. Doh!

A FIFA statement said: “The squad lists that the teams had provided to FIFA by June 1, 2010 are final and can no longer be changed. On the final lists must be no more than 23 players, three of whom shall be goalkeepers.

“The only exception is in the case of a serious injury of a player in the list of 23, who could be replaced up until 24 hours before the first match of the team in the competition.

“The three players listed as goalkeepers can only play as goalkeepers during the FIFA World Cup and cannot play outfield. This will be communicated to the teams in the team arrival meetings and will be enforced on match days.

Looks like Myong-Won will be so ronery in South Africa. Don’t worry chap, you’ll only be out there for three games (Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast will see to that).