North Korea Coach Ri Kwang-chon Criticizes Referee After Japan Defeat

North Korea men’s national football team head coach Ri Kwang-chon criticized the refereeing after his squad exited the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in the quarterfinals on Sept. 26, 2026, following a 0-1 defeat to Japan at Toyota Stadium in Toyota, Japan.

The decisive moment occurred in the 39th minute when Nigerian-descent Japanese player Uche Nwadike scored the match’s only goal. North Korean players protested that Nwadike had shoved a defender during the build-up and demanded the goal be disallowed, leading to a mass demonstration on the pitch. Refereeing officials rejected the appeal, and the score stood for the remainder of the fixture.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ri acknowledged the final score but expressed deep frustration with the officiating and the validity of the breakthrough strike. According to Yonhap News Agency, the North Korean manager questioned whether the sequence aligned with sporting fairness.

Result-wise, we lost, Ri said, as reported by Yonhap News Agency. I don’t really understand if the conceded goal we suffered fits the spirit of fair play. If things keep going this way, it seems unlikely there will be fair play. There appears to be a problem with the referee.

Tournament Progress and Squad Development

Despite the controversial exit, Ri assessed his team’s overall campaign positively. When asked about the squad’s performance throughout the international tournament, the coach highlighted their steady development match by match.

As a manager, it is pleasing to see the players develop the more they play matches, Ri stated, according to Yonhap News Agency. I thought that if we prepare with confidence, we can achieve much better results anytime.

Supporters and Diaspora Reaction

The match drew an organized backing from local Zainichi Koreans led by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan. Approximately 200 supporters gathered in rainy conditions at Toyota Stadium, waving North Korean flags, chanting slogans, and singing team anthems.

Ri expressed regret that the team could not reward the damp supporters with a victory that would have extended their medal journey.

I am sorry for not being able to deliver the joy of victory to our compatriots who cheered for us hard on a bad day, Ri said, via Yonhap News Agency. With the hot cheers, we ran and ran throughout the entire tournament with unyielding passion.

With the 1-0 result, North Korea’s campaign at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games concludes at the quarterfinal stage, while Japan advances deeper into the tournament bracket.