North Korea has blasted an Italian daily for calling the actions of Pyongyang soccer fans "mob violence."

A sports daily in the North on Friday said bottle throwing by a few spectators angry over a missed call is not violence, stressing fans did not threaten rival players or referees.

Fans rioted after the North lost a March 30 World Cup qualifier to Iran in Pyongyang.

Corriere della Sera reported that fans gathered outside the stadium after the game to attack Iranian players.

The North's daily said fans only sought to soothe the depression their players over their loss.