World Cup co-hosts at odds

South Korea and Japan have had their differences

The first public row has broken out between World Cup 2002 hosts South Korea and Japan.

South Korea's organising committee has lodged a complaint with world football's governing body, Fifa, ahead of Tuesday's 500 day countdown to the first co-hosted World Cup.

The dispute concerns the order of the names on the tournament's promotional material.

At present, Japan's name appears first. But the Korean organising committee, KOWOC, claims that goes against an earlier agreement between the two countries.

FIFA president Blatter has a row to settle

Both countries were fierce rivals to stage the World Cup before they were jointly awarded the event and under an agreement in 1996 the official title is "2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan."

According to the Japanese Organising committee, JAWOC, however, an unofficial agreement was reached which allowed Japan the right to put its name first in domestic promotional campaigns.

JAWOC insist they will continue using Japan-Korea and the row has marred what was meant to be a gala celebration of the event.

The row increase fears that the countries are incapable of working together. Last year, Japanese and South Korean representatives were ordered to special meetings with the Dutch and Belgian organisers of the 2000 European Championships in an attempt to alleviate the problems.

The order came from Peter Velappan, the Asian Football Confederation general secretary and Fifa co-ordinator for the World Cup.

Velappan is in Seoul for a special countdown television show and concert on Tuesday that will include special messages from President Kim Dae-Jung and other key officials.

The rival committees are to launch a joint internet vote to let the public decide the name of the three World Cup mascots for the 2002 finals.