AMERICAN FOOTBALL

George Bush popularized the term "axis of evil" to describe Iraq, Iran and North Korea, including later to Libya, Syria and Cuba, within the usual Manichean language of the former president of the United States.




With Obama as president-and the consequent change of style at least - in the way of understanding the relations with these countries, Iran and North Korea remain however for its news and political affairs for his football, so often associated and is that something moves in the axis of evil, even if the rotational movement of a football. The news came in recent days after Iran, the suspect election results in the power that keeps the fundamentalist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the resulting protests and riots in the country, have also penetrated the world of football. At the party faced the Iranian selection against South Korea in Seoul.


Some players lucieron a green wristband. A simple gesture, anecdotal in another context, if not because it is a clear show of support and solidarity to the opposition party led by cutting openness Hossain Mousavi. Besides the osasuna Masoud and Nekounam, also wore the wristband Mehdi Mahdavikia, whose participation in the protest was particularly significant: team captain and a sporting idol in his country, has been used often in propaganda by the regime, such as when thanks to a goal from Mahdavikia Iran was able to beat United States at the end of the 1998.


France World, a fact exploited by the regime in Tehran to attack their American enemy. The Persians moved to Seoul fans also showed their protests as happened in the vicinity of the stadium and slogans during the protest meeting. In the second part, the players left the field without the symbols, according to the opposition under pressure from the Iranian authorities. The party is key to Iran's aspirations to qualify for the World South Africa ended in a tie for both.


The goal of South Korea equaled the match, the work of Ji Sung Park, automatically sorted to its northern neighbor, in one of the few friendly gestures that both countries have recently shown. After the draw in Seoul, equal to Saudi Arabia ranks North Korea directly for the World Cup for the first time since 1966. And it will be the first time that the two Koreas dispute the final phase of a World Cup. At the World England 1966, the Chollima became the second team from around the world, with its joyful football, his heroic ranking for the second phase leads to Italy ahead of his dignity and the elimination of Portugal Eusebio, after anticipating on the scoreboard with three goals.


Currently the international relations of North Korea is experiencing a further escalation of tension, after the rocket testing and nuclear weapons carried out by the Pyonyang regime, which has unleashed protests from the international community. If we are checking in Iran - over censorship - that society is moving, North Korea continues to suffer the isolation of a regime of Stalinist inspiration. Continuing tensions, it is difficult that the selection of North Korea based on a system of work and the football defensive counterattack, could raise the same sympathy as that of 1966. But who knows, maybe his presence in an international competition of this draft, with a softened U.S. foreign policy with Obama, enable gestures by all sides to improve relations in pursuit of a lasting peace. Football has already taken the first step.