The Asian Handball Federation has rejected an order from the sport's world governing body to replay two final qualifiers for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

Kyodo News Agency of Japan said the Asian federation decided in a council meeting in Kuwait to snub the order from the International Handball Federation.

The Asian federation notified the international federation of its decision, and has banned member states from hosting or taking part in any replay.

The international federation in a December council meeting had ordered the replay of the men and women’s final qualifiers involving Japan and Korea. Both countries cried foul over the officiating in the matches.

Korea says it will file a complaint with the Court of Arbitration of Sports if the replays do not proceed.