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Soccer Riot Update: To no one’s astonishment, the North Korea-Japan game won’t take place in Pyongyang after all. It will be held in a third country with no fans present. The North Koreans were fined 20,000 Swiss francs, which is probably enough to buy you nice, hot cup of cocoa or a shiny new cowbell. Here’s a first-hand report.

The Iranians got written up, too:

FIFA also fined the Iranian football federation 30,000 francs ($31,665 Cdn) for crowd disturbances after its March 26 match against Japan. Five people were crushed to death and 40 others injured in a stampede.

Those Iranian soccer riots, by the way, are the subject of intense interest outside Iran. Some reports from inside Iran suggest that they weren’t just an apolitical episode of sports violence. Regime Change Iran has more.

Maybe FIFA should join forces with the IAEA and fine them each one reactor.

Update: Heh. Blame those “wicked” referees.