Why shouldn’t North Korea be allowed to name just two goalkeepers for the World Cup? Or one? Or even none?
Why shouldn’t they be allowed to name 23 strikers if they so desire?
Governing body FIFA’s rule on mandatory goalkeeper numbers smacks of heavy-handedness and over-regulation.
Strike power is a big issue for the North Koreans (and we’re talking football here, not nukes).
So coach Kim-Jong Hun named only two keepers in his squad, with striker Kim Myong-Won listed as the third.
FIFA then delivered a body blow to the North Koreans by insisting Kim can only play as a keeper.
The three listed goalies must play between the sticks, according to FIFA rules.
They cannot play in outfield positions.
It is now too late to change the squad.
The North Koreans are making only their second appearance at the finals.
They raised eyebrows on debut in 1966 in England, a tournament they reached by defeating Australia.
They drew with Chile 1-1 and stunned Italy 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals, where they led Portugal 3-0 before the great Eusebio rescued his country with four goals in a 5-3 triumph.
FIFA’s tough edict is unlikely to affect the outcome of Group G at the 2010 World Cup, as the North Koreans are rank outsiders up against five-time champions Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal.
Nonetheless, it seems odd that FIFA should want to meddle in team selections.
Imagine FIFA trying to tell the Socceroos that Harry Kewell couldn’t play as a defender if he was listed as a forward.
That’s exactly what he did once last year for his Turkish club Galatasaray.
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