N. Korea cancels football friendly with Oman due to food poisoning

SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has canceled plans to hold a football friendly with Oman Saturday, citing a sudden outbreak of food poisoning among its players, a newspaper report said Thursday.

"The match is canceled because 10 North Korean players have been diagnosed with
severe cases of food poisoning which occurred during their training camp held in
China," said the Times of Oman, citing a communique from the Oman Football
Association (OFA), which received a letter from its North Korean counterpart.
The North Korean team, which has already grabbed a 2010 World Cup berth, was
scheduled to hold the friendly in Oman on Sept. 5.
The ailing players were ordered by medical staff to take a 10-day rest, according
to the newspaper.
North Korea had previously claimed that some of its athletes showed symptoms of
food poisoning after they were defeated 0-1 by South Korea at a World Cup
preliminary match held in April in Seoul. They accused the South Korean football
body of providing improper food and beverages that sickened key players. The
Korea Football Association (KFA) has called the claim "groundless."
brk@yna.co.kr
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