Matildas<\/a> may need to brace themselves for as they prepare to face North Korea in their quarter-final on Friday. Because these kinds of tactics are not unusual for the tournament\u2019s most mysterious participant.<\/p>\nAt the 2006 Women\u2019s Asian Cup in Adelaide, North Korea played China in the semi-final. China were winning 1-0 when, deep into stoppage time, North Korea equalised.<\/p>\n
However, the Italian referee disallowed the goal due to offside, and the North Korean players were so furious that, after the final whistle, goalkeeper Han Hye-yong charged across the grass and kicked the referee from behind. Then, according to former Matilda Kate Gill, \u201call hell broke loose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe support staff and coaches picked up water bottles and were throwing them at the referee,\u201d Gill says. \u201cThe Chinese supporters then started throwing bottles at the North Koreans from the stands, and then players started throwing them back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were watching this unfold like, \u2018man, we\u2019ve never seen anything like this.\u2019 It escalated really quickly out of nowhere; it was obviously a decision they didn\u2019t agree with and felt aggrieved about, and that was their response.\u201d<\/p>\n
The referees had to be escorted out by security, with the North Koreans accusing them of plotting against their country, demanding life bans and a rematch. Instead, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) suspended the goalkeeper for a year, with shorter bans imposed on two other players, in addition to fines.<\/p>\n
North Korea lost 1-2 to China in their final Group B match. Photograph: Dean Lewins\/AAP<\/p>\n
Something similar happened in 2010, when North Korea travelled to Australia to play a two-match friendly series against the Matildas. They had drawn 2-2 in the first match, but the second game in Brisbane turned farcical.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got a penalty just before half-time, \u201d Gill recalls. \u201cThey disagreed with the outcome, so the coach signalled to the players to walk off the pitch. There was no VAR at the time, so it was purely a refereeing decision, calling it how they saw it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were all just standing around wondering what was going on. There was a 10-minute delay because they refused to go back on the pitch, which they needed to do so we could take the penalty.<\/p>\n
\u201cEventually they did, and I took the penalty and scored. That was the first time us as a nation had experienced that \u2026 They very much did what they did against China the other night.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Matildas wait on the field while North Korea stop play in Brisbane in 2010. Photograph: Bradley Kanaris\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Matildas played North Korea in the final of the Women\u2019s Asian Cup later that year and defeated them on penalties, winning their first \u2013 and, so far, only \u2013 continental title. For Gill, while the tactics of the team were frustrating, she recognised that North Korea\u2019s players were also under immense pressure and monitoring from their government back home.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt got me thinking about the bigger picture of it all and how lucky we are to live in a country where we have autonomy over the decisions we make,\u201d she says. \u201cBut for a country that\u2019s so shut off from the world and not exposed to good sporting standards or expectations, they\u2019re probably acting how they\u2019ve been told to.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was looking back at it, the directions always came from the support staff and head coach who coordinated the players to walk off the pitch or retaliate. I would hate to be the player on the North Korea team who thought that kind of thing wasn\u2019t right, and they didn\u2019t want to act in those ways. What would be the repercussions for that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Australia will meet their old foes once again on Friday in Perth, with the winner qualifying for the semi-finals and the 2027 Women\u2019s World Cup. The Matildas will need to improve on last week\u2019s messy performance against South Korea \u2013 in particular by tightening their midfield, shoring up a now-shaky defence with Steph Catley unavailable due to concussion, and capitalising on the few chances they will get in the box.<\/p>\n
North Korea are known for their sharp passing, quick transitions, and intense physicality, but based on their history, it might be more than just the football Australia will need to be ready for.<\/p>\n