I am writing this article as a believer that sports and politics must remain separated. It appears that the deteriorating relations between the two Koreas have affected football [soccer] matches. On the 1st of April 2009, North Korea lost one of the most important games to South Korea for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Classification.

North Korea’s Football [Soccer] Association launched a complaint against South Korea accusing it of poisoning its players. The South Korean Football [Soccer] Association called the Korea Football Association [KFA] has denied the claims. Their response was that their physician evaluated the North Korean Players and found no evidence of food poisoning.

North Korea has asked to have the games between the two Koreas played in neutral areas. FIFA has said no to the North Korean request. The only exception was when a game had to be played in a neutral area. The reason was that North Korea prohibits the national anthem and flag of South Korea in its territory.

Every country has its rules and regulations but sports should be separated from politics in the same way that the state and church. While many talk about sports with politics, sports is a way of escaping the daily routines of life.

Many people who watch a football [soccer] game or enjoy baseball as well as other sports just want to have fun. It is nothing more and nothing less. The people and the nations should leave their personal problems at the doorstep when concentrating in sports. I have said this many times in life and will continue to say this.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7985154.stm

http://my.nowpublic.com/sports/north-korea-accuses-south-korea-poisoning-football-players