October 24 – As wrong anthems go, few have been more sensitive. South Korea’s players were astonished when organisers of their youth match against Jordan played North Korea’s instead.
The gaffe happened ahead of an AFC under-19 Championship qualifier hosted by Indonesia when North Korea’s national tune blared out, leaving the South Korean players somewhat stony-faced.
The team’s coaching staff told officials of the mistake and while the correct song was then played, a protest was nevertheless made after the game.
Seoul’s football authorities said they will file a formal complaint with the Asian Football Confederation.
“This is the first time that the North Korean anthem was played instead of Aegukgaat any official international match for any level of the national football team,” the Korea Football Association said in a statement.
North Korea’s U-19 team is also participating in the tournament and the local organising committee blamed the error on the audio operator in charge of playing the anthem while the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) said it was caused by an honest mistake.
“During the rehearsal, the South Korean anthem was played. But somehow the operator later picked the wrong song file,” Gatot Widagdo, media co-ordinator for the tournament told AFP. “The operator has (since) been replaced and we have apologised to South Korea verbally and in writing.”
In a statement the AFC said it “apologises to the Korea Republic team and the Korea Football Association and the AFC will take the appropriate steps to ensure this error cannot be repeated.”
Mixing up anthems is a hazard Tiny Gibraltar, who spent years trying to get FIFA and UEFA recognition, finally won their first competitive game last month – but only after being accidentally mistaken for fellow minnows Liechtenstein when it came to playing national anthems.
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