South Korea football bosses in talks to avert Women's Asian Cup boycott

SEOUL, FEB 2: South Korea football bosses said on Monday they were in talks with players to avert a boycott of next month's Women's Asian Cup and expected the national team to train for the tournament as scheduled.

The country's women's side last year complained of poor and "discriminatory conditions" provided by the Korea Football Association (KFA) compared to their male counterparts.

A team statement from September, made public in January, said that players faced gruelling long journeys on buses and economy-class flights, and were forced to stay in "inadequate" accommodation far from training grounds.

A KFA official told AFP: "We are continuing talks with the players to resolve the matter and plan to proceed with our training schedule."

The governing body will call in the players for a pre-tournament training camp in mid-February, she added.

Players complained that they were required to pay for their own airport transfers and training kit.

The players' statement said they would "suspend participation in all training related to the upcoming 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup" and refuse to play matches if the KFA did not respond by October 17.

It added there were "clear and undeniable differences" from the conditions enjoyed by the men's national team.    �"AFP