North Korea probed over claims World Cup flops were tortured after early exit from tournament

Daily Mail 08/12/2010 15:51

Tortured? The North Korea team, pictured before their game against Ivory Coast, were publicly humiliated after their exit from the World Cup

Fifa has launched an investigation into allegations that the North Korean World Cup coach and players were punished by the government after they lost all three of their games in the tournament in South Africa.

Last month, Radio Free Asia said that the Korean squad, apart from two foreign-based players, were subjected to 'harsh ideological criticism' after their team conceded the most goals of all 32 at the tournament.

Their coach Kim Jong-hun was also publicly humiliated and sentenced to hard labour for their performance.

Fifa's president said a letter had been sent to North Korea's footballing body.

Sepp Blatter said: 'We sent a letter to the football federation to tell us about their election of a new president and to find out if the allegations made by the media that the coach and some players were condemned and punished are true.

'We are doing this as a first step and we will see how they answer.'

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