FIFA give China a Korean base ahead of World Cup draw

FIFA have given a South Korean venue to China in a special dispensation ahead of the 2002 World Cup final draw in Pusan on Saturday.

France will also be based in South Korea with Brazil claiming correctly that they will be based in Japan.

Michel Zen-Ruffinen, general secretary of FIFA, told a press conference that the FIFA executive committee had unanimously agreed to let China and its fans avoid an expensive - and politically sensitive - trip to Japan.

Saudi Arabia will be based in japan as the two Asian qualifiers are kept apart.

Zen-Ruffinen claimed "special region for economic and geographic reasons was behind the move by FIFA which will also keep South Korea and China apart in the group stage for next year's finals.

Special regulations allows the tampering with the World Cup draw which FIFA always maintains is not rigged but which sees a number of rumours and political machinations surround its draw.

"The regulations exist and it was a unanimous decision," he said as China prepare for their first ever finals with as many as 300,000 fans expected to visit Korea.

Chinese president Jiang Zemin says he will be at the opening ceremony in Seoul in May as China start a serious campaign to claim the rights to host the 2014 finals.

FIFA vice president Chung Mong-Joon, co-chairman of the Korean World Cup Organising Committee (KOWOC), is behind the invitation to China and has expansionist plans for his role in FIFA over the next few years.

His Hyundai corporation is a massive sponsor of the world governing body and Chung is set to be president one day of either Korea or FIFA.

Chung says his Japanese counterpart Shunichiro Okano backs his plan is a rare moment of accord between the two nations.