Courtesy of the BBC Sports World Cup coverage:

Perugia have decided not to renew the contract of Ahn Jung-Hwan, the South Korean midfielder whose golden goal knocked Italy out of the World Cup. Ahn Jung-Hwan, who missed a penalty earlier in the match, was hailed as a national hero in Korea when he headed home the winner in the 116th minute of the second round match.

Perugia chairman Luciano Gaucci linked the non-renewal of Ahn Jung-Hwan's contract to his role in Italy's defeat.

"That gentleman will never set foot in Perugia again," club chairman Luciano Gaucci told sports' daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He was a phenomenon only when he played against Italy.

"I am a nationalist and I regard such behaviour not only as an affront to Italian pride but also an offence to a country which two years ago opened its doors to him.

"I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian soccer."

But a Perugia spokesman insisted the club had decided to release Ahn even before the World Cup tie.

Ahn Jung-Hwan joined Perugia on loan from the South Korean team Pusan Icons in the summer of 2000, but he scored just five goals in 29 appearances.

Korea's victory has been greeted with fury in Italy, where the referee and soccer's ruling body Fifa have been accused of fixing the match.

Even before scoring his goal, Ahn Jung-Hwan, with his model looks, was a huge celebrity in Korea, the closest thing the Koreans have to David Beckham.

He is married to a former Miss Korea, Lee Hye-Won.

Times like this make me ashamed to be a son of Italy, but there's some ironic comfort here - one of my uncles (a Bruno) married a woman from South Korea, and somehow everyone managed to live happily ever after. Which all just goes to demonstrate how much of a big steaming crock of shit nationalism truly is, when everything is said and done.

Go Red Devils!