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Football: Man Utd's Park called up for Olympics

AFP - Wednesday, April 23

SEOUL, April 22, 2008 (AFP) - Manchester United star Park Ji-sung will be called up as an over-age player to represent South Korea at the Beijing Olympics, the national coach said Tuesday.

"The coaching staff has decided to pick Park as a wild card," Park Sung-hwa was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.

"Now it's up to the willingness of the player himself and the decision of his team."

The Olympic football tournament is for players under 23, but three older representatives are allowed.

Park's comments come a day after the head of the South Korean football association announced a similar plan to include the country's English Premier League players in its squad.

"I will initiate talks with Premier League teams so the best players playing there such as Park can play in the Olympics," said Chung Mong-joon, head of the Korea Football Association.

Several South Koreans ply their trade in England, including Seol Ki-hyeon of Fulham and Lee Young-pyo of Tottenham Hotspur.

South Korea have been drawn alongside Italy, Cameroon and Honduras for the Olympic tournament in August.

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