Korean's Asian ban for kicking referee extended worldwide

SINGAPORE, Oct 5 (Reuters) World soccer's governing body FIFA has ruled that an Asian ban on Nororean goalkeeper Han Hye-yong should have worldwide effect.

Han's one-year ban, imposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after she kicked Italian referee Anna de Toni at the women's Asian Cup semi-final in July, will cover all matches including friendlies, the AFC said on its Web site today.

The AFC hit Han with the ban last month and also fined her 4,500 dollars for violent conduct.

Han's team mates Sun Son-kyong and Sun Song-jung were also banned by the AFC for four months each from representing North Korea in all official and friendly matches at an Asian level, and fined 3,000 dollars each.

China beat North Korea 1-0 in that semi-final and went on to beat Australia in the final.

Reuters PM DB1137