The scorer of South Korea's 'golden goal' which eliminated Italy from the World Cup is sacked by his Italian club.
Is this just a case of sour grapes? And if a player from your team put your country out of the World Cup, could you accept them back?
Ahn Jung-hwan dumped the Italians out of the tournament with a 116th-minute header which sent his nation into raptures.
But Perugia's president Luciano Gaucci was not as enthused, announcing he would not be extending Ahn's contract.
Gaucci said his club's decision was prompted not by Ahn's goal but by his remarks afterwards, which were "offensive to me and the whole Italian nation".
Has Ahn been treated despicably?
If he wasn't wanted by the club they could have done it before the World Cup, they were just waiting to let him perform so that they could sell him for a better price!
Edwyn, Singapore
It's absolutely absurd and very low. It seems that the notion of fair-play in sport is forgotten. The World Cup is the competition for countries and every player has the duty to give his best for the national team.
Stupid nationalism has no place in sport! Ahn should go on to a much better team - as for Perugia they should get a severe punishment for their attitude and behaviour. Best of luck to the Korean team!
Sabina Stirb, Romania
When people say that Ahn was an underachiever during his stay with Perugia, they are wrong! Ahn had good outings with Perugia when he was given the chance to play. The word around is that he was subject to some stereotyping just because he is Asian. That is unfair!
If a player for my team scored against my country, I would be pleased that at least it's my player who scored. This would revive his confidence in the game and would benefit my team. Lucianno Gaucci must grow up and stop being so childish. Typical behaviour of all the Italians during this World Cup Finals, unfortunately.
Leo, Italia
This is a dark day for Italian football. Not only have they shamed their league but they have shamed their nation. How can any man put club before country? Football goes country then club. This is a disgrace and I am sickened by Italian football now.
Walie, Canada
Ahn is probably safer not returning to Italy. BUT, the reason he is not is a poor-sport decision that flies in the face of all the game claims to stand for, and will forever be a blight on Italy's sportmanship.
Of course the refs should be fired. Very poor calls by them, considering that the game is the main sport of most of the world. The athletes are not responsible for the actions of the refs, but the Italian owner is responsible for his shameful reaction.
Alexander Mackenzie,
United States
Some readers state that Gaucci had a right to sack Ahn because of his underperformance with Perugia. That's disingenuous. Gaucci hadn't publicly criticized Ahn prior to the World Cup. Clearly, Gaucci's childlike behaviour stemmed from the goal, not to his pre-World Cup performance.
Regarding Ahn's comments, he only said something that was clearly demonstrated on the field. Gaucci doesn't deserve any defence. His jingoistic and immature attitude shames the honorable Perugia.
Alberto, Colombia
It's probably stupid, but totally human. I don't know why people are making such a big fuss about it. He was about to leave anyway, and was not doing anything good in Perugia. The fact is, Italians tend to talk too much and forget to act PC. But that's part of their charm
Linda, Belgium
Italy have no one but themselves to blame. Their much touted defence collapsed when they needed it the most. Gus Hiddink has done a great job at making the Koreans play like a unit. Korea has proven that their win was not a fluke by eliminating Spain in the very next game.
The case of Hwan being dumped by his Italian club is less of a case of sour grapes and more of a case of bitterness. If the same goal had been scored by Ronaldo, I doubt if his Italian club would have dared to dump him.
The reasons he gives for his decision are more stupid than his action itself. He says that "I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian soccer". The only players who have ruined Italian soccer are the Italian players themselves. If anybody noticed the way Mexico dominated them in the final group game, it would have been a sign of things to come.
Teams like Korea, Senegal, USA and Japan have proved that football has become a more global game. Teams like Italy, Portugal and France have to understand that. As for Perugia boss Gaucci, I would like to say that it is not Ahn Jung-Hwan who has "ruined" Italian soccer but people like you who has made Italy look like a sore loser in front of the whole world.
Italy should take a page out of the Englishmen's book who bowed out of the World Cup with dignity by admitting that they lost to "a better team".
Aravindan Vasudevan,
India
Sore losers, that's all. Everyone, including the president of Perugia, knows what an honour it is to play for one's country. No one is expected to betray their country or club, even the president. Ahn Jung-Hwan did exactly what any honest person on earth would have done. Honestly, not every one on earth would have done what the president of Perugia has done.
Henry, Singapore
Thank you Gaucci for your decision. Now Ahn does not have to play in a struggling team with no faith.
David Choi,
S Korea
Perugia's chief said "it was not Ahn's goal, but his remarks afterwards, which were offensive to me and the whole Italian nation."
But I - living in Korea - have not heard any of Ahn's comments that are harsh to Italy or Perugia. Instead, he said "I learned a lot in Italy. I thank Italy" on the day after the match.
So the ONLY possible conclusion is that Perugia's chief also has as an intelligence agency which can cover this far-east country, and which is more powerful than thousands of news-hungry Korean journalists. Isn't it great?
Mh Shim,
Korea
I think it is an utter disgrace hearing that Ahn had been sacked. It just shows the increasingly unsporting behaviour of the Italians. They have blamed everybody in that game: the referee and now the players. Can't they just face losing.
Chris Anderson,
England
Are you joking? Reading your comments it seems that all the Italians are Gaucci!! This a Gaucci choice not an Italian choice! Before talking about crying Italian babies, please take a look at the replay; think and then talk! Italian cry babies...Spanish cry babies...Germany cry babies??
We are not all Gaucci!, Italy
One would think that Gaucci's first reaction would be to provide consolation to the team and the nation of Italy after the match. By sacking Ahn, that does not change the situation at all. And Ahn's remarks were made "afterwards" - after the ridiculous "sandwich" story. Serves Gaucci right for ill-treating the players.
Adrienne,
Malaysia
People can debate whatever they want, but fact is that Ahn is not very popular in Italy, and it will be safer for him not to step foot in Italy again.
Chris Mezzenzana,
Italy
Ahn Jung-hwan must be a top class player to score like he did with so much confidence and I think a bigger club than Perugia will get him for free and will earn them millions!
Jonny, England
To all football players playing outside their country. Never do your best, in order not to be sacked by your club owner.
S.K. Kim, Dae Han Min KuK
Mr Gaucci's behaviour is clearly irrational and impulsive. Unfortunately, he has unwittingly given more ammunition to those who would criticise Italian football as being negative, capricious and over-rated. The man is a disgrace, and he doesn't even have the insight to realise this!
Fahmid, England, UK
Although I think Gaucci is overreacting (just like the Italian press and politicians), I think that releasing Ahn is justified. Ahn scored only five goals in 29 games in Italy. Although he is having a great World Cup, he is not a world class player.
That could change in the future, but for now, he is not in the same class as David Beckham, Ronaldo or Christian Vieri. He was no more than a substitute striker at best in a weak Serie A team that had three other capable forwards to choose from - probably the true reason why he was sacked.
If Ahn continues to improve, he will be playing at a better team anyway, but for now, he should thank Gaucci for sparing him from having to play in front an angry Italian crowd in Milan or Rome this year.
Ben, Canada
I'm not too sure whether he should be sacked or not. At first I thought it was bad sportsmanship, but Ahn apparently did go beyond his bounds a little bit and made a few inappropriate comments. Maybe he meant something else, maybe he didn't, but I say none of this would have happened if Italy had gone all out to put the game beyond reach and had won.
K.W Lau, UK
Korea's whole team looks like their playing on adrenalin for the home crowd but they are actually very overrated. Ahn may be their best player, but if Perugia don't want him, they have that right!
Michael, Australia
Ahn Jung-hwan was right to score and put Italy out. Given the choice of playing for an Italian underachieving team or score a memorable goal for your country, I know what most people would choose.
James, England
Ahn Jung-hwan did score a crucial goal, but he did not do too well in his time at Perugia. His employment should be terminated.
If Ahn Jung-hwan becomes a top scorer in the English Premiership or some other league, then Gaucci will have made a bad decision to let him go. If he doesn't, then Gaucci will have made the right decision.
J. Watanabe, Japan
Gaucci was protecting Ahn from the Italian press and fans.
Wendy Bell, Scotland
I think Daewoo should now withdraw their sponsorship with Perugia and give Gaucci a taste of his own medicine.
Amie, UK
Perugia gave a display of such immaturity. It should have given them more reason to employ him, rather than dismiss him. If this is the way Italian officials react, they don't deserve to win anything.
Debbie Mortimore, England
Ahn has consistently underperformed in Serie A and therefore Perugia were completely within their rights to sack him.
Vernon, Hong Kong
I would like to point out that Gaucci is one person, not the representative of Italian sport.
Andrea, Italy
It makes no sense to sack a player for scoring a golden goal. It's proof of this player's ability and it should give you all the more reason to keep him.
Esra, Holland
Gaucci apparently has a reputation for being a hothead and quite capricious. He let his temper get the better of him and he overreacted, but I don't think he deserves the worldwide vilification he's been receiving.
Give the man a break! Gaucci's impassioned actions are only testament to how important most of the world regards the World Cup. We here in the US would be lucky to have such passion.
John,
United States
I hope Ahn takes the Chairman to the cleaners and gets as much money out of him as possible. If I were a Perugia fan I would be calling for his head. Ahn might not have played very well for them last season, but there was no talk about him leaving until Italy got eliminated. 'Disgraceful' is how I would some up this matter
Neil Poole, Brit living in Spain
Gaucci is a disgrace to football and should be expelled from it for acting in such a cowardly manner. Well done Ahn for doing what he should do - help his country win! I hope Gaucci gets fired instead! Anyway Ahn should be getting offers from better clubs so maybe Gaucci is doing Ahn a favour by letting him go.
Thomas, Argentina
Of course he should have sacked him - how dare he be so insulting to the Italian football nation.
He should do his talking on the football pitch instead of in the media.
Dave Williams,
UK
Gaucci's reaction is hardly surprising - petulant, arrogant and truly shameful.
Ahn is better off not playing in Italy in any case. He would have been abused wherever he played, even at home. He does not need that sort of grief. From his point of view the situation is far from bad. He is likely to be welcomed in many other countries for his contribution to dumping Italy out of the World Cup.
Would an Italian playing club football in South Korea have thought twice about sticking the ball in the South Korean net if the situation had presented itself? I doubt it...
Marc Ng, UK
It's a typical Italian chairman's reaction. The Italians are underachievers and blame everything else for the demise of Italian football. Ahn should feel lucky he's not going back to such a sad club.
Johnnie,
England
I would ask you all to recognise that in the same way that a hooligan does not represent the English (or other nations') lack of sportsmanship, we cannot take this one man's behaviour to represent the attitudes 58 million Italians. Bizarre behaviour, especially when this whole business must have raised Ahn's value!
Giovanni, Italy
Gaucci's reaction had nothing to do with the goal. He is suffering from a superiority complex. He was overconfident that the Italians would overrun the energetic and never say die Koreans
Would he have smiled and increased Ahn's salary if he scored an own goal which enabled Italy to progress?
Grow up Gaucci and stop behaving like this. You are only making Ahn more popular. Shame on you.
Deo Ekwaro,
Kenya
We have to thank Mr Gaucci, as his ridiculous statement as has helped to promote Korean football and worsen the Italian's already poor reputation for sportsmanship.
Geoffroy, Belgium
'Never set foot in Perugia again?' Who does he think he is? I hope the first thing Ahn does is go on a visit to Perugia just to show Gaucci.
Bob G, Italy
Perhaps Ahn would be best out of Italy anyway. Can you imagine the reaction from the crowd if he was to play away at Lazio? It might be more than just coins thrown at him. Italy were robbed, the refereeing has been as consistently disgraceful as it always is in the World Cup!
Tom Brancati, U.K.
An Italian club sacks their player who scores against their national team. An Italian motor manufacturer makes a mockery of racing by imposing team orders. Notice a pattern here?
Andrew, USA
In trying to be viewed as patriotic, Gaucci came across as unsportsmanlike, bitter and a sore loser. Ahn and his team were clearly the better side and I am sure many other European clubs will gladly extend him a very lucrative contract. Get over it Gaucci!
Jackie, US
Need I comment? Gaucci is an embarrassment to football.
Jon, USA
Gaucci's behaviour was atrocious - sore losers! Ahn's performance was terrific and a lot of football fans will want to monitor his career and future progress. All the best to him.
C. Prescott, Australia
Italians, please learn to respect: respect your opponents, respect your opponents' fans and respect yourself.
J Chen, UK
Under the same logic Mr.Gaucci, would have doubled Ahn's salary if he would have scored an own goal.
Vinod Udyawar,
India
This is more than sour grapes. It's about the refusal of the tottering football powers to accept the ascendancy of the so-called minnow nations: Korea, the USA, Senegal. If Ronaldo or Batistuta beat Italy, would Inter or Roma be looking to sack them?
Jon, USA
This is the worst case of gamesmanship I have ever seen. People are concerned about match fixing in all sorts of sports, yet this Italian criticises the passion of the South Koreans. Perhaps if Italy had played with this passion they would have won the game in normal time. As for Perugia's chairman, he should be sacked from his job.
Val,
Brazil
As a Perugia fan, I am disgusted with the sacking. It is true that Ahn underperformed as a player in Serie A, and on that level he should have already been let go. But to sack him on nationalistic pride is pure idiocy and goes against every principle that is held dear in Umbria! I apologise to the whole of the footballing world for such petty behaviour on our side.
Federico, Italian in UK
I would love to see Ahn playing in the English Premier League. Anyone interested?
Byungmoon Cho, Korean in London
Millions watched the newly improved Korean Football team outplaying the world-renowned Italians. Maybe Gaucci thought that this was an upset, and out of frustration, acted immaturely by sacking Ahn.
Senegal's team consists of 11 French leaguers, and they beat the French. Should they be sacked by their clubs? Gaucci, stop acting childishly and learn to accept the loss to a harder working team.
Joon Rhee, USA
Perugia were not right to sack Ahn. Bad Sportsmanship, Sour Grapes, Childishness - call it what you like, I think it is disgusting.
Alan Fox,
England
Who's paying Ahn's salary? It's Gaucci, and he can fire whoever he wants. He didn't like what Ahn said, so he fired him. It had nothing to do with the Italian League.
Claudio, USA
It's just as well that Ahn will not be playing for Perugia again. Considering the attitude and reaction of the Italians, I wonder what kind of reception Ahn would have received from his team-mates if he had returned.
Bunny, Australia
Don't worry, Ahn, this will make you more famous and raise your value. You can go to any other league to show your real abilities, and remember that 47 million Koreans are supporting you.
Yongseok,
South Korea
Perfect! This is precisely the extra publicity that Ahn needed to raise his international profile. He will be a household name among football fans around the world. Gaucci may be an idiot and a sore loser, but Ahn should thank him further for this gift from heaven.
D Cho,
Korea
What happened to sportsmanship? Anyone would think there was a war between Italy and S Korea, the way this childish Italian club president has reacted. The Italians were well beaten by the Koreans, and to behave like this makes the losers look even more stupid than they did on the day.
It is not Ahn but Gaucci who has done a disservice to Italian football.
H R Lee, England
It's quite ridiculous that the Italians have reacted in this way. Do they believe they have a God-given right to progress through the World Cup? Should all the "lesser" footballing countries rollover when they play Italy?
The only reason Italy are out of the World Cup is their negative tactics once in front. At the very least the announcement was ill-timed; at worst it was petulant.
Frank, England
Before asking Ahn to show respect, why doesn't Luciano Gaucci first show any respect to Korea's victory, rather than whining over the referee's decisions? You'd learn where respect comes from first, Mr Gaucci!
Minjung Kim, S Korea
So childish; so arrogant; totally disappointed!
Steve,
US
The decision to sack Ahn because he scored the winning goal against Italy makes me want to resign my membership of the human race. "Sour grapes" is too mild an expression - I despair!
John Wilson,
Scotland
I think the Perugia manager has done Ahn a huge favour without realising it. Ahn is a hero now in South Korea and can look forward to many offers from top clubs. Imagine the persecution and abuse he would have to put up with if he stayed in the Italian league.
The behaviour of the Italians following the match this week has been quite outrageous. It seems that honour and dignity have gone by the wayside in favour of playground tantrums.
Let's hope that Italy can become great winners again, instead of the bad losers they appear to be now.
Jon B, UK
Mr Gaucci should know better. It is understandable that he became furious about Ahn's header that brought defeat to the Italian team, but at the same time, it is regrettable to see his "emotional" reaction.
Also his remark about Ahn being a phenomenon only when he played against Italy does not do justice to what Ahn has achieved during the World Cup so far. Ahn's equaliser during Korea's match with the USA was no less phenomenal.
Lee Kwang Wook,
Korean
After the Italy match, Ahn said that even though he had spent most of the time on the bench, his game had improved a lot during his time at Perugia because he was practising with such good Italian players. He said he was grateful for the experience but probably thought he wouldn't continue to play there. This was on Korean national TV.
Ahn has a reputation for being quiet and shy, despite his popularity. I can't believe Luciano Gaucci when he says that Ahn insulted Italian football as being inferior. Also, Perugia's own manager said the day after the match, before Gaucci's comments, that Perugia had decided not to renew Ahn's contract before the World Cup even began.
Gaucci is just trying to exploit the fury felt by the Italians fans to make himself look better.
David Smith, Seoul
With Italy's recent disappointments in European club football and early exit from this World Cup, Italian football as had its day. Ahn Jung-Hwan couldn't be leaving at a better time. Good Luck to him.
Phil,
UK
Gaucci just did Ahn a great favour. I guess this is just one of those Italian ways of saying 'goodbye'.
Jang,
Korea
Are Perugia going to sack their shirt sponsor, Daewoo as well?
Josh, UK
I saw the game and I can tell you that South Korean players were far better than the Italians. Mr Gaucci ruined Italian football by overreacting and he brought shame on himself and Perrugia.
Zak,
France
Gaucci has forgotten one thing; Ahn had done all he could to help Italy, he missed a penalty at the fifth minute!
Paul Yange,
Cameroon
What an idiot Gaucci is? Show respect where it is due, and don't be a sore loser. We would not have a World Cup if every team sacked international players that scored against their international team's country while in service to their national team!
This passing of blame is the reason why favourites Italy could not beat a less ranked team such as Korea, simply because they did not respect the training, effort and hard work of the less favoured teams.
Ryan, Canada
If one thing has shown in this World Cup it's the immaturity and childishness of these so-called World Class teams, they think they are unbeatable and when they get beaten they look to pass they buck instead of holding their hands up and accepting defeat graciously and this is just another example of that type of pathetic behaviour.
Peter, UK
Would any Italian club terminate the contract if the player to score and send them packing was Ronaldo or Trezeguet! It's just an example of the churlish attitude typical of the Italian and Spanish leagues.
Dr Prasad, UK
I think Italy's response in general is just sour grapes. If they had played and worked as hard as the Koreans, maybe they would have an argument. Well Fifa and EEC, what are you going to do?
Gerry Ward,
Canada
I have one word for Gaucci - Idiot!
Corey,
USA
Gaucci has made Ahn very, very famous.
Ki Kwon,
Korean/American
Mr Gaucci should know and act better. It is understandable that he became furious about Ahn's header that brought defeat to the Italian team. But at the same time, it is regrettable to see Mr Gaucci's "emotional" reaction.
Also his remark, "He [Ahn JH] was a phenomenon only when he played against Italy," as quoted in the media, is not doing justice to what Ahn has done during the World Cup so far. Ahn's equaliser during Korea's match with the USA was no less phenomenal.
If Mr. Gaucci does believe that Italy IS a football power, and if he does know how to appreciate an excellent performance in the field no matter who plays against whom, he had better save his pride in some other ways.
Rose Lee,
USA
I would like to find out what remarks Gaucci was referring to because Ahn basically thanked the team for giving him a chance two years ago. Ahn's contract ended before the World Cup and he wanted to go to another team anyway.
Is Gaucci doing this so that he can be viewed as being patriotic to his nation? Well, think again. Everybody thinks you're a laughing stock now.
James K,
USA
It is disgraceful and shows that the Italians really are sore losers. If every country adopted the same approach as the Italians there would be no World Cup and it would be the end of players playing in different countries.
Ahn did not make any offensive comments, he merely stated the truth that the Koreans played superior football to the Italians. They proved this by beating the Italians in a true sportsman-like fashion. Stop crying Luciano Gaucci and grow up!
Nina, England
Not only sour grapes, but peppered ones which Perugia cannot smell or swallow. At least it explains why there are not that many superstar Italian footballers outside that country.
Oliver Mudyarabikwa, Zimbabwe
Italians should have played harder when they had a chance instead of accusing the referee and Korean players of stealing the game. To me, it seems that you deserved to lose the game by playing defensively after the first goal.
Susan, USA
It pains me to see such childish behaviour, because millions of new Asian football fans unfamiliar with the Azzuri will now forever remember them as cry-babies. All this does is bring into dispute Italy's claim as one of the world's great footballing nations.
Paul Yoo, South Korea
Ahn Jung-hwan was simply expressing his team and nation's feelings about the game "that night". The Italians are renowned for being sore losers and always want to be on the winning side.
They are not gracious in defeat so don't expect them to be. Everyone will get blamed apart from their own players. At the end of the day, they played a poorer game and got beaten by the better team.
Claire, UK
What a disgrace! Perugia had no right to sack the Korean player - it is just sour grapes. Ok, he may have said Korea were better than Italy but they were on the day and he is bound to be excited after his country have won such a vital match.
Simon, UK
