Bring Politics Into the World Cup: Ban North Korea

The idea of banning North Korea from the 2010 World Cup should be carried out through action.

And the reason why is; one it slaps down the North Korean leader before the people of North Korea and two, it will tell the citizens of North Korea, as long as your leader plays the insane dictator, your collective body will play by your collective rules.

Meaning, you want communism and the collective approach over individualism, then you live by the rules of communism.

This argument against bringing politics into sports is ludicrous. It has been done through the ages.

As Iranians prepare for the country's increasingly unpredictable presidential election, a national football disappointment yesterday provided a paradoxical boost for those hoping to unseat the incumbent hardliner, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

President Ahmadinejad faces a serious challenge from Mir Hossein Musavi, who is reviving the hopes of the long-demoralised reformist camp. Musavi, a former prime minister, benefited when Iran drew 0-0 against North Korea - reinforcing worries that the beautiful game has declined along with the Islamic Republic's economic situation and international standing during Ahmadinejad's stormy four-year term.

For many football-crazy Iranians, especially the young people who form the majority of the population, the "axis of evil" fixture in Pyongyang, which all but ended Iran's 2010 World Cup hopes, reinforced the sense that it is time for change.

It's time to be honest about it. Plus the United States could turn it into a two-fer. North Korea beat Iran and North Korea could be banned.

And last but not least; for Russia's actions with Georgia, the United States should be leading the charge to revoke the decision on holding the Olympic games in Sochi, Russia.

That could make it a trifecta in sports...