A golden goal and the darker aftermath

The 2002 FIFA World Cup is remembered as a tournament of shocks and surprises. Traditional powerhouses like France and Argentina crashed out in the group stage, while emerging sides such as South Korea and Turkey defied expectations to reach the semifinals.

The upsets continued in the knockout rounds, where established European giants like Italy and Spain fell to co-hosts South Korea. Italy’s elimination, however, came amid one of the most dramatic and controversial matches in World Cup history.

At the Daejeon World Cup Stadium, a packed 39,000 crowd mostly roared for South Korea, as they chased a historic place in the quarterfinals. The match began with an early opportunity for the hosts, but Ahn Jung-hwan missed a penalty. Italy then took control, going ahead through a well-taken chance by Christian Vieri.

South Korea pressed relentlessly and were rewarded in the 88th minute when Seol Ki-hyeon equalised, sending the match into extra time.

At the time, FIFA still employed the “golden goal” rule -- a sudden-death format where the first goal in extra time immediately decided the match. Redemption arrived in the 117th minute when Ahn Jung-hwan rose to meet a cross and headed home the winner, sealing a historic victory for South Korea and knocking Italy out of the tournament.

The goal sparked nationwide celebration and cemented Ahn’s place in football folklore. Yet, what followed was as shocking as the goal itself.

At the time, Ahn was playing for Italian club AC Perugia Calcio. The club’s owner, Luciano Gaucci, reacted furiously, announcing the termination of Ahn’s contract. “I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian football,” Gaucci reportedly said.

The decision drew widespread criticism and exposed a striking contradiction -- a player celebrated globally for a historic World Cup moment was effectively punished by his own club for the same achievement.

The situation soon became more complicated. Despite announcing his release, Perugia obstructed Ahn’s attempts to join another club. His standout performances had attracted interest from across Europe, including Blackburn Rovers, who sent officials to South Korea to secure his signature.

Ahn later recalled signing documents with Blackburn representatives, only for the move to collapse. Perugia lodged a complaint with FIFA, claiming contractual rights and demanding a transfer fee -- despite previously indicating they had released him. The dispute left a 26-year-old Ahn in limbo, sidelined for nearly six months during a crucial phase of his career.

“I was so frustrated. I couldn’t play anywhere,” Ahn later said, describing how legal complications prevented him from joining Blackburn or any other club.

Eventually, he revived his career in Asia, joining Shimizu S-Pulse in September 2002 before later moving to Yokohama F. Marinos. Though he attempted a return to European football, he never quite reached the heights many had predicted after his World Cup heroics.

Years later, Ahn, who became a TV personality and commentator after retirement, also revealed darker aspects of the aftermath, claiming he received threats from Italian mafia figures following the match -- an indication of how deeply the defeat had resonated.

“In the Italian newspapers, the mafia said they were going to kill me. I still can't go to Italy," Ahn said in a recent interview, almost 24 years after the incident.

His golden goal remains one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history -- and one of the last of its kind. The rule was scrapped in 2004 after criticism that it was overly harsh. Notable golden goals include Laurent Blanc of France in 1998, Henri Camara of Senegal in 2002, and Ilhan Mansız of Turkey, whose strike marked the final golden goal in men’s World Cup history.

South Korea’s victory also carried broader significance, as it ensured that teams from five continents reached the quarterfinals of the same tournament for the first time.

However, for Ahn Jung-hwan, that unforgettable header defined both the peak and the turning point of his career. In a cruel twist, the moment that made him a national hero also marked the beginning of a turbulent professional journey -- a stark reminder of football’s unpredictable and often unforgiving nature.