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AFC to watch Chinese qualifier 'carefully'
China and Hong Kong were warned on Friday against fixing the result of next month's key 2006 World Cup qualifier. China must beat Hong Kong by a wide margin in their last Group Four match on November 17 to have any chance of advancing to next year's final round of Asian qualifiers. Kuwait beat China 1-0 in midweek to go top on goal difference. The Gulf side, who are two goals better off than China, are at home to winless Malaysia in their final match and now favourites to claim the one qualification spot. "Both FIFA and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) will be watching the matches very carefully," AFC general secretary Peter Velappan told Reuters. "If there is any funny business, they will face the music." Velappan was responding to media reports in Hong Kong claiming the China Football Association could put pressure on their "little brother" to roll over in their final match. Former British colony Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 but retains sporting independence. China made their World Cup finals debut in 2002 but lost all three matches and failed to score a single goal. However, they have made steady progress under Dutch coach Arie Haan and failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany would be a major blow for Chinese soccer. The top team from each of the eight second-round groups progresses to the final round of Asian qualifiers. Saudi Arabia, Japan, Uzbekistan, Bahrain and North Korea are already through. |
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