Referee Dedicates Victory to Iran, Uli Stielike Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – South Korea's national football coach Uli Stielike has openly criticized Uzbekistani referee Valentin Kovalenko for his performance during Iran–South Korea friendly match.
The South Korean football team suffered a 1-0 defeat Against Iran in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
In the 81st minute, Rubin Kazan striker Sardar Azmoun found the back of the net and Stielike believed that it was a clear foul on the Korean keeper.
“I am satisfied with my players but I believed that the referee dedicated victory to the Iranian football team. It’s for the second time we concede these kinds of goals and I think my players are very polite and don’t protest the referee,” Stielike said in the post-match news conference.
South Korea has lost three times out of its previous four matches.
Asked him if the team has a chance to win the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, Stielike said, “As I said before our team can be a successful team in the Asian Cup. We will be better in the future. "
"At the moment, we are concentrating on counter-attack but with this unity we have a great chance to win the Asian Cup,” the German coach added.