Perugia boss defends Ahn sacking

Perugia president Luciano Gaucci has accused Ahn Jung-Hwan of making comments "offensive to me and the whole Italian nation" as he explained the club's decision to axe Korean football's golden boy.

Gaucci confirmed that Ahn would not be welcomed back at Perugia after the finals.

Ahn headed the 'golden goal' winner as South Korea dumped Italy out of the World Cup.

The 2-1 victory was met with great acclaim across Korea as it set up a quarter-final against Spain.

"This decision was not taken prior to the World Cup," said Gaucci, "but after the comments made by the player Ahn on Friday and Saturday in which he discredited Italian football.

"He said Korean football was superior to Italian football, when Italy is a footballing nation.

"We have treated him well with all our love, but his comments were offensive to me and to the whole Italian nation.

"I feel offended by what he said. He should respect other nations as well as his own."

The controversial Gaucci, a former Roma director, made an immediate decision to sack Ahn, who had been playing for the Serie A club on loan from Korean outfit Pusan Icons.

"It has nothing to do with the goal he scored against Italy," he explained.

"He could have scored 10 and I wouldn't have felt offended. It was simply the comments he made."

Ahn's value has soared following his impressive World Cup performances, and he is expected to stay in European club football.

In two seasons with Perugia, he scored five league goals in 30 appearances.