WORLD CUP STORIES: THE SACKING OF AHN JUNG-HWAN

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When co-hosts South Korea came up against Italy in the second round of the World Cup in 2002, most people thought it would be the end of the road for the plucky Red Devils. The Koreans had surprisingly won a tough group to qualify for the knock-out stages for the first time in their history. They could consider themselves unlucky to be playing Italy who had finished runners-up in a group they had been expected to win.

South Korea had in their starting line-up Ahn Jung-Hwan, the David Beckham of Korean football, who also happened to be employed at the time by Seria A side Perugia. As the dramatic evening unfolded, the emotions of Italians fans in the stadium and around the world - and in particular their feelings towards Ahn - underwent the greatest contrast imaginable.

Just four minutes into the match and Korea were awarded a penalty following the sort of "handbags" incident in the penalty area which is part-and-parcel of life in the Italian League. Not so at the World Cup, and golden boy Ahn steps up only to see his average kick saved by Buffon. Ahn becomes a temporary 'hero' for the Azzuri. Fast-forward the game to four minutes from the end of extra-time - with the score 1-1 and the 'golden goal' rule in play - and Ahn Jung-Hwan cleverly steers a header past Buffon that sends a nation into raptures and the Italians to the airport for the plane home.

Ahn Jung-Hwan had effectively just ripped up his contract. Following the game, Luciano Gaucci, president of Perugia F.C., gave him the sack, offering the following words: "That gentlemen will never set foot in Perugia again. I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian football." Gaucci faced wide criticism for his actions but claimed that the decision was NOT because of the goal that Ahn had scored, but because of his post match comments which Gaucci interpreted as Ahn asserting that Korean football was superior to Italian football. Ahn denied this, and the Perugia coach Serse Cosni attempted to persuade the club president to reverse his decision, but Gaucci was having none of it and Ahn was on his way out of Italy.

FIFA - usually quick to get their nose in where it's unwanted - stayed out of this one, stating that the matter was entirely between club and player. One thing is for sure though: This sour grapes story can't detract from what was one of the great World Cup shock results of all time, and a match which formed an unforgettable part of South Korea's fairy tale run to the World Cup semi-finals on home turf.