Monaco agree to release S.Korea´s Park for Asiads

Monaco have performed an abrupt u-turn and allowed South Korean striker Park Chu-Young to play at the Asian Games, officials said on Sunday.

Park was picked as an over-age player for the under-23 squad by coach Hong Myung-Bo last month, but the struggling French side said on Friday that they would not release him.

However, the Korea Football Association, cited by the Korea Herald, said Park had made clear in lengthy talks with Monaco manager Guy Lacombe that he wanted to play at the Games in Guangzhou and he will now travel to China.

The exclusion of Park, who played at the World Cup in South Africa, would have been a huge blow for the team, which is aiming to end a 24-year Asiad gold medal drought.

Clubs are not under obligation to release players for the Asian Games, which are not part of FIFA’s international match calendar.

Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng has already been cut from the squad after the Scottish Premier League team refused to release him.

Gyeongnam FC midfielder Yoon Bitgaram, 20, who scored his first international goal on his debut against Nigeria in August, replaces Ki.

South Korea play their first game on Monday, against arch-rivals and neighbours North Korea, although Park is only expected to arrive on Monday and is unlikely to feature.