'Should I just punch him?' The 'North Korean player' who threatened with a clenched fist has another dark history with Japan, and his 'fatal error' led to elimination: "He holds a grudge like no other" [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

This was truly an unreasonable act. The North Korean men's national football team, which fell to Japan in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, faced severe criticism after strongly protesting the refereeing decisions and even refusing the post-match formal lineup and handshakes.

Japanese media outlet 'Ronspo' reported on the 27th that "the U-21 Japanese national team defeated the U-23 North Korean national team 1-0 in the men's football quarterfinals of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, advancing to the semifinals for three consecutive tournaments." However, it added, "North Korea persistently protested the goal conceded in the 39th minute of the first half, causing a roughly two-minute stoppage. After the match ended, they refused even the lineup and greetings, leaving an extremely bitter impression."

On the previous day, the 26th, Japan secured a narrow 1-0 victory over North Korea in the tournament's quarterfinals held at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, holding on to their first-half lead until the final whistle.

However, immediately after the final whistle signaling victory, an unusual scene unfolded at Toyota Stadium. Normally, post-match handshakes and greetings between both teams' players and officials were completely boycotted. Wildcard goalkeeper Kang Ju-hyeok, with a stern expression, gestured to his teammates to leave the stadium immediately. The North Korean players avoided eye contact with their Japanese counterparts and exited toward the stands behind the goal where a small group of compatriot supporters had gathered.

The spark for the controversy was the opening goal in the 39th minute of the first half. Japanese defender Sato Kaihiro (Albirex Niigata) sent a long pass, and North Korean defender Kim Yu-seong, attempting to handle it, lost his balance and fell during a physical challenge with 191cm tall attacker Enwadike who rushed in from behind. Seizing the opportunity, Enwadike scored with a right-footed shot. The mistake by Kim Yu-seong was made by the same player who had received a yellow card at the 2022 Hangzhou Games for forcibly taking a water bottle from Japanese staff and threatening them with a clenched fist.

Once the goal was scored, North Korean players aggressively surrounded the referee, claiming Enwadike had pushed Kim Yu-seong's back. They even made gestures drawing a rectangle with both hands to request video assistant referee (VAR) review, but this was not accepted because VAR is only introduced from the semifinals onward in this tournament.

North Korea's rough conduct continued throughout the match. They received three yellow cards in the second half alone. In the 42nd minute of the second half, after a shot by North Korea was saved by Japanese goalkeeper Araki Rui (Gamba Osaka), two players simultaneously received yellow cards while vehemently arguing with the officials about a handball by a Japanese defender. North Korea head coach Li Kwang-chon stated in the post-match press conference, "I cannot understand whether the goal conceded was consistent with the spirit of fair play. If this happens, fair play becomes difficult, and there were problems with the refereeing," shifting blame to the officials.

However, the reality was that North Korea's defeat was self-inflicted due to a lack of clinical finishing. Although North Korea unleashed 18 shots—far exceeding Japan's 10—the number of shots on target was only three, fewer than Japan's four.

The U-21 Japanese national team, aiming for their second Asian Games title in 16 years, overcame North Korea's fierce attacks to reach the semifinals. Japan will face Uzbekistan in the final match at Osaka Nagai Stadium on the 30th at 7:30 p.m. On the same day at 3:00 p.m., the U-23 South Korean national team, led by coach Lee Min-seong, will play against China in the semifinals. If both teams win, a Japan-South Korea final match for three consecutive tournaments will be realized.

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*This content was translated by AI.