Park to miss Olympics, but not North Koreans
혻혻 SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) — Park Ji-sung of Manchester United will miss the upcoming Beijing Olympics due to fears of injury, but the 27-year-old midfielder is still likely to make his presence felt at Sunday’s rare World Cup qualifier between the two divided Koreas in Seoul, soccer officials said.
혻 혻 Park missed last week’s World Cup qualifier in Turkmenistan due to a suspected relapse of a knee injury. But on Monday, the Korea Football Federation (KFA) said medical specialists cleared him of concerns, and he will likely appear in the Sunday match at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
혻 혻 “It’s up to the manager to determine whether he’ll start, but for now, Park is in sufficient form to play in the June 22 match,” said Yoon Young-sul, a chief medical advisor for the KFA.
혻혻 The clearance came on the same day as the Seoul-based soccer governing body decided to exclude Park from the Olympic squad for the Summer Games in Beijing in August.
혻혻 The decision was officially announced by Olympic manager Park Sung-hwa, who had earlier said he was considering Park as one of three overage “wild card” players whom he was allowed to put on his under-23 team.
혻혻 The manager’s hope of picking South Korea’s most prominent soccer star was dampened by fans who feared for Park’s health and even accused the KFA of abusing the midfielder. Park has become hugely popular in South Korea, a country whose performances have often been weak on the international stage.
혻혻 “After considering the surrounding circumstances, we have decided not to pick Park” as one of the team’s older players, the Olympic manager said at a press conference on Monday.
혻혻 Park joined South Korea’s training camp north of Seoul on Tuesday, as his team began its first practice session ahead of the inter-Korean qualifier for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
혻혻 The two Koreas will advance to the final round of World Cup qualifiers regardless of the outcome of the Sunday match, as they have already clinched the top two spots, respectively, in Asian Group 3.
혻혻 South and North Korea remain in a technical state of war after the two sides fought the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce, rather than a permanent peace treaty.