"North Korean Players, Truly Disgraceful"... Outrage Over Fist Gestures and Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Branded as 'Gangster Football'

[Financial News] The North Korea national under-17 football team drew criticism for unsportsmanlike behavior during the FIFA U-17 World Cup Round of 16 held at Aspire Zone in Doha, Qatar, on the 19th.
Although North Korea lost to the Japan national under-17 football team in a penalty shootout, many argued that they were also thoroughly defeated in terms of sportsmanship. Criticism of the North Korean players’ actions has spread across international media and on Social Networking Service (SNS) platforms.
The unsportsmanlike conduct by North Korean players occurred during the pre-match greetings with the Japanese team. Typically, players from both sides exchange light greetings such as high-fives or handshakes before a match, as a gesture of fair play.
However, the actions of the North Korean players could hardly be considered a greeting. Some displayed expressions of strong emotion and forcefully swung their fists downward, a scene that quickly spread through broadcast footage and SNS.
Outrage and criticism poured in not only from Japan but also from the international community, with media outlets reporting on the incident.

Japanese media outlets pointed out, "Their behavior was so rude and rough that it could hardly be called a greeting."
Netizens commented, "Did they use the high-five as an excuse to actually hit their opponents?", "Aggressive gestures," "Lack of sportsmanship," and "Classic gangster football."
According to Chunichi Sports, the Japan Football Association (JFA) submitted the video footage to FIFA on the 20th.
A JFA spokesperson stated, "We want FIFA to make a judgment. We only sent the video and did not submit an official protest letter. We will wait and see how FIFA responds."
British media also reported on the incident.
GiveMeSport regarded the incident as an assault, reporting, "North Korean players assaulted Japanese players before the match, sparking controversy."
GiveMeSport also shared reactions from fans who watched the footage, noting, "As the video spread through SNS, fans could not hide their shock and anger."
Fans reacted by saying, "How can the match be allowed to start under these circumstances? It's absurd," and "Truly disgraceful. The referee should have at least given a warning to all North Korean players, or at least to the captain and coach."
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter