TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's prime minister on Wednesday waded into a feud over Olympic handball, insisting the national team was justified in seeking a replay of Asian qualifiers after allegations of referee bias.

"In sports, it's important to have fair rules and judgements. If that's prevented, then Japan must insist on what it has to insist on," Yasuo Fukuda told parliament when asked about the handball row.

"We will closely coordinate with sports organisations" to ensure Japanese handballers' chances to take part in the Beijing Olympics, he added.

The International Handball Federation in December ordered replays after Japan and South Korea protested against what they called unfair refereeing in the original qualifying rounds last year.

But the Asian Handball Federation, headed by a Kuwaiti sheikh, has declared the qualifiers valid and threatened to punish any countries that take part in the rematches slated for later this month.

Kuwait won the men's qualifying tournament and Kazakhstan, which was seen as having close relations with Kuwait, took the women's event, giving both countries tickets to the Beijing Olympics.

Japan and regional powerhouse South Korea cried foul and questioned officiating calls after the Asian federation replaced European referees at the last minute at their matches, installing referees from Jordan and Iran.

Fukuda is known for his close relations with Gulf nations dating from his earlier career as an oilman.

Only Japan and South Korea have said they would take part in the replays in Tokyo. The women's tournament is slated for January 29 and the men's on January 30.

Japan, where international sporting competitions are closely watched, came in fifth in the medal haul at the 2004 Athens Olympics.