Korea's new football World Cup organising chief has re-stated his wish to shift the dates for the 2002 finals. He is hoping to have the dates switched to the end of May until the end of June in order to avoid the rainy season. The change, if it happens, could seriously interrupt domestic competitions around the world such as the European Cup. Undaunted, Korea hope to discuss the possibility with partners Japan, who are co-hosting the event, in an attempt to push it through with FIFA. That FIFA will agree to the change is unlikely given the disruption, but they will come under considerable pressure.

The question now, however, is whether the World Cup should be staged at all in an area where torrential downpours are very likely or simply to move the dates. Both are likely to cause problems. Either way, it's something you might have thought FIFA would actually have considered before they awarded the games.