China terminates Dutch coach Haan

BEIJING, Nov 19 (Reuters) -- China coach Arie Haan has confirmed that his contract has been terminated following the team's World Cup elimination, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.

China's 7-0 demolition of Hong Kong on Wednesday was not enough to send them through to the next round of Asian qualifiers after Kuwait had thrashed Malaysia 6-1.

Dutchman Haan said he would return next week to his home in Germany, Xinhua reported.

"The team's current base is very good. To make that base, I made many compromises and concessions," he was quoted as telling China Central Television.

The coach acknowledged before the match that his contract with the China Football Association (CFA) would be terminated if the team failed to go through. An emotional Haan said afterwards that he felt "empty inside."

CFA officials said Haan was not being made the scapegoat for China's traumatic exit.

"As a coach Haan is diligent and modest. He has made a contribution to Chinese football," CFA vice president Yang Yimin told Xinhua on Thursday.

The team made significant progress under Haan, a midfielder in the exciting Dutch sides of the 1970s that reached two World Cup finals.

Haan was quoted as saying he felt good about his two-year tenure, particularly this year.

"This year, we only lost two matches. In the final of the Asia Cup we lost to Japan, and afterwards we lost to Kuwait," he said.

"That should not be considered a bad result."

China, who made their World Cup finals debut in 2002, needed to score two more goals than Kuwait but fell agonisingly short in Guangzhou on Wednesday.

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