A German newspaper has come out in support of Koreans who eat dog meat.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said sports associations shouldn't pass judgement on what Koreans eat.

It followed a plea from Fifa president Sepp Blatter that dog meat be taken off the menu during next summer's World Cup.

But the newspaper said Japan had not been asked to drop sushi nor had France been asked to take snails off their menu in 1998.

The newspaper quoted Mr Blatter as saying he had received thousands of letters and emails from people around the world saying they would boycott the 2002 finals and all future Fifa events unless Koreans end their custom of eating dogs, reports Korea's JoongAngIlbo.

The paper said it is a culturally imperialistic way of thinking to demand one country end a custom to accommodate outsiders.

The editorial also said Koreans, who are very much aware of the international criticism, do not generally offer the dish to foreigners. It added while he has every right to criticise conditions at some dog ranches, Mr Blatter has no right to change the menus at thousands of restaurants in Seoul.

ITD - Protests must be sent to this Newspaper, explaining to them that there is a difference between eating snails and raw fish, and torturing dogs and cats to death. It seems that their editorial staff need this explaining to them.......

Comments should be sent to
Kirsti Pärssinen
E-Mail: efaz@faz.de
Phone: +49 (0) 69 - 7591 3206
Fax: +49 (0) 69 - 7591 2767