HANGZHOU, China, Oct 1 (Reuters) - North Korea soccer coach Sin Yong Nam defended his players after several clashed with match officials on the pitch after their 2-1 defeat to Japan in the Asian Games quarter-finals in Hangzhou on Sunday. With the confrontation drawing in the assistant referees and several security staff, the North Korean coach also ran to his players to try to defuse the situation. The North Korean players were earlier furious when Lutfullin awarded a penalty to Japan after goalkeeper Kang Juh Yok charged out and clipped the feet of Jun Nishikawa with an outstretched arm. Japan coach Go Oiwa declined to comment on the incident when asked. Additional reporting by Michael Church in Hangzhou, China; Editing by Clare FallonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source: The North Africa Journal October 02, 2023 00:49 UTC