Fifa open North Korea enquiry

Kim: Reports of mistreatment

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Fifa will investigate claims of mistreatment of North Korea's players and coach, Sepp Blatter has confirmed.

North Korea's World Cup campaign ended with three straight defeats and a host of reports have claimed coach Kim Jong-Hun was sentenced to hard labour and his squad were subjected to a six-hour interrogation by government officials on returning from South Africa.

And Blatter has admitted Fifa have contacted the new president of the North Korean Football Association regarding the alleged incidents.

"(We contacted them) to tell us about the election of a new president, and if it is true, the allegations made by the media that the coach and some players have been condemned or punished," he said in a press conference in Singapore.

"The first step is the federation and we'll see what the answer will be, and then we can elaborate on that."

Russia

Fifa take a dim view of government interference in footballing matters and have often in the past suspended affected federations, like the case of Nigeria in the summer.

Blatter has also confirmed the matter of goal-line technology would be on the agenda at the International Football Association Board meeting in October.

Meanwhile, Fifa have confirmed the planned visit of their inspection group to Russia is expected to go ahead as planned despite the wildfires currently affecting the country.

The group are due in Russia from 16th to 19th August as part of the bidding process for 2018 and 2022 World Cups.