I’ve heard of gamesmanship surrounding World Cup qualifiers, from hotel fire alarms being pulled, to the team bus’ route to the stadium being blocked, to late-night phone calls meant to keep opposing players from getting any sleep. But mass food poisoning? That’s a new one, and that’s what North Korea officials are accusing their neighbors to the South to explain their 1-0 loss in AFC qualifying in Seoul on April 1.
“It was beyond all doubt that the incident was a product of a deliberate act perpetrated by adulterated foodstuff as they could not get up all of a sudden just before the match,” said an official statement from the North Korea soccer association, expanding on accusations originally brought up by Coach Kim Jon Hun. After three of his starting players went down with stomach illnesses said to be food poisoning, Hun made requests to get the game delayed or moved to a different venue but they were both rejected by FIFA.
And if that claim wasn’t strong enough for you, North Korea also suggested that the alleged act was party of newly elected South Korea president Lee Myung Bak‘s “moves for confrontation” and campaign pledge to “get tough” with the North. The North Korean players were examined by a doctor but no serious health problem was found.