NORTH KOREA STRIKER TO PLAY IN GOAL INSTEAD

VIENTIANE (4 June 2010) – North Korea will be forced to play striker Kim Myong-Won as a goalkeeper during this month’s World Cup in South Africa due to a mix-up about the squad.

The team had decided to bolster their attacking options by including the forward in the slot reserved for a third goalkeeper, taking the risk that they would be able to survive the tournament with just two glove men.

But FIFA rules insist that all squads must include three keepers, and that those three players are prohibited from playing in outfield positions.

And with the deadline for the squads to be named having passed, no changes will be permitted except in the case of a serious injury more than 24 hours before a team’s first match.

“The three players listed as goalkeepers can only play as goalkeepers during the FIFA World Cup and cannot play outfield,” FIFA said in a statement.

“Kim Myong-Won will not be allowed to play as an outfield player if he has been put on the list as a goalkeeper.”

Source: eurosport.com