Bad blood boils after Korea's loss to Qatar

DOHA, Dec 12 (Reuters) Five-times champions South Korea branded the Asian Games handball competition an ''embarrassment'' to the sport after their controversial loss to Qatar in the semi-finals.

Host nation Qatar won 40-28 over the South Koreans, who have won the men's title at every Games since Seoul in 1986, though the manner of victory did not sit well with Yoon Kyung-shin, voted world player of the year in 2001.

''I have been playing this game for 20 years and have never seen anything like it,'' said Yoon. ''It makes an embarrassment of handball. It was like child's play at times.'' The game's two Kuwaiti referees disallowed several South Korean goals and hit them with 10 two-minute penalties that forced them to play shorthanded for much of the night.

The Korean delegation in Doha had already sent a formal letter of protest to the Olympic Council of Asia and Asian Handball Federation over ''unfair refereeing'' in its loss to Kuwait on Saturday, state news agency Yonhap reported.

The referees from that match were Qatari.

Qatar will now play Kuwait for the gold medal.

''BAD BEHAVIOUR'' ''I think even if we had 10 people on the court we couldn't have won this match,'' added Yoon. ''It's like a movie and we have been made to play our part.'' Qatar coach Ekrem Jaganjac said he was unaware of any refereeing controversy and that he was simply delighted his unfancied side had beaten one of Asia's best.

''We know Kuwait and they know us for sure, so it will be a tough game,'' he said.

Jaganjac also aimed a swipe at the Koreans for what he called their ''bad behaviour'' in previous Games.

The Korean team had refused to exchange pleasantries in Bangkok in 1998 and he had been given the cold shoulder by their coaches and players, he said.

''Everyone knows how to say 'good morning' in English. Not even the coach did,'' Jaganjac added.

''I will never do what they did.'' South Korean coach Park Do-hun was unable to respond as he chose not to attend a post-match conference.

Reuters SAM GC1932