Asian broadcaster says it gave North free Cup feed

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union said Tuesday it’s providing North Korea with free live coverage of World Cup matches so that its citizens can enjoy the sport and get a feel for life outside their isolated nation. Sport director John Barton said he signed a contract with FIFA on Friday before the opening game to broadcast the matches in North Korea, and dismissed as “rubbish” reports accusing Pyongyang of broadcasting a pirated recording of the opening match between South Africa and Mexico. South Korea’s SBS television, which owns broadcast rights for the entire Korean peninsula, had questioned how North Korea secured the footage. “They have got the live feeds with the blessing of FIFA. They are legitimate, they are not pirating, they are not doing anything wrong,” Barton said. (AP)