Article from FOX Sports: Semi Finals End in Farce

[Dr.D]

Semi-final ends in farce
By Daniel Lato
July 28, 2006

THE Asian Football Confederation will today launch an investigation into the ugly scenes which marred the end of the China-North Korea match at Hindmarsh Stadium last night.

China's post-match celebrations after qualifying to meet Australia in Sunday's final descended into chaos as the North Korea players took their frustrations out on the match officials.

Deep into stoppage-time the North Korea players thought they had scored to send the match into extra-time, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

The players remonstrated with the referee but play continued. However, on the final whistle about a minute later their frustrations boiled over as four or five players surrounded the Italian referee, Anna De Toni.
De Toni produced a red card for goalkeeper Hye Yong Han after she had pushed the official on the pitch. North Korea players then surrounded the official.

Security guards and police escorted the referee and assistant referees from the field. As they reached the tunnel, Han ran at the match officials. Security guards were also required to restrain the coaching staff on the bench.

The North Korea bench and substantial crowd of China fans in the stands then began throwing empty and full water bottles at each other.

North Korea is no stranger to controversy in international football.

Last year the men's team was ordered to play a World Cup qualifying match against Japan on neutral territory after crowd trouble in a preliminary match at Pyongyang.

The women's team has a reputation of walking off the pitch if the match officiating is not going to their expectations.

The AFC is expected to scrutinise the video of the post-match events and harsh penalties to those involved can be expected to be handed out.
North Korea was not allowed to attend the post-match press conference with an AFC official saying only that the "privilege" had been withdrawn.
But several held media interviews outside the ground as the team was ushered directly on to the bus.