Italy's daily La Stampa reported Wednesday that Perugia were not renewing Ahn's contract, saying "Italians will hate him for giving such a fatal blow to Italy." It continued that "Ahn couldn't learn Italian for over two years" and when "the coach made all players eat high-calorie spaghetti, he couldn't get rid of his oriental way of life and bought Korean food even in Milan."

Perugia's owner, Luciano Gaocci said in an interview with Italian commercial television station "La 7" that, "When Ahn first came to our team, he was like a lost goat with no money to even buy a sandwich. He did nothing for the team, but is rich now and ruined Italian soccer at the World Cup." Gaocci added, "To renew the contract with Ahn we have to pay US$1.53 million, but no such thing will happen. He should return to Korea, where they only earn US$48 (W60,000) a month." "Let him go back to Korea and earn 100 lire (5 cents) per month!" Gaucci was quoted as saying in Il Messaggero, a Rome daily.

In response, Ahn said, "It is a childish speech that disgraces Italian fans that love soccer with a pure heart." Coach Guus Hiddink of the Korean team said, "You are supposed to fight against other countries in the World Cup. Does that mean we're not supposed to score goals? It is so childish. "Do I have to tell them, 'Ahn, you are playing now but I must tell you, you must not make a goal.' If so, it's a childish reaction."

In addition, the Italian players, on the plane to Rome from Incheon Airport this afternoon expressed their scorn with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon sticking up his middle finger as cameras zoomed in and Christian Vieri turning down autographs from Korean fans.

(Lee Han-su, hslee@chosun.com )