SEOUL, June 24: A South Korean judge denied an arrest warrant on Monday for a teenager who had been detained for theft and urged him to cheer the national soccer team which has reached the semifinals.

The 16-year-old middle school student stole a notebook computer and 3,400 won ($2.82) last Friday from a car parked in Chonju, one of the 10 South Korean cities hosting the World Cup finals, a court official said.

“He is just a teenager. I thought arresting him is bad for his education,” said judge Lee Jeong-ryeol at Chonju District Court.

“Rather, I decided to give him an opportunity to cheer the national team to boost his royalty for the nation,” he said.

South Korea became the first Asian team to reach the World Cup semifinals when they beat Spain 5-3 in a penalty shootout on Saturday. They face Germany on Tuesday in Seoul for a place in the final.—Reuters