Veteran goalie Lee returns to World Cup squad

(ATTN: ADDS comments by coach in paras 3-4)
SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's football governing body said Monday Lee Woon-jae, a veteran goalie whose year-long ban for a nighttime drinking scandal was just lifted, has been included in the roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.

Lee, who took several junior players to a decadent bar in Indonesia during the
Asian Cup tournament last year, was removed from suspension on Sunday. The
35-year-old will take part in the regional World Cup qualifier against Saudi
Arabia on Nov. 20 (Korean time), the Korea Football Association said on its Web
site.
"He has been regretting the incident quite a bit," coach Huh Jung-moo told
reporters. "He has much to offer the junior players as a senior and a goalie as
far as knowhow is concerned."
"I have concluded that he is a player that can help the team in many aspects," he
said.
The roster also included Park Chu-young, the 23-year-old striker who signed this
year with AS Monaco of the French league, and Manchester United's Park Ji-sung.
Lee Young-pyo of Germany's Borussia Dortmund, who helped South Korea beat the
United Arab Emirates 4-1 in the opener of the final World Cup qualifying, has
also joined the roster, the KFA said.
Ten Asian teams are competing in two groups in the final Asian qualifying round,
where South Korea are also grouped with Iran and North Korea.
South Korea will hold a friendly warm-up match against Qatar just four days
before the World Cup qualifier in Saudi Arabia.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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