The Japanese Football Association just announced that it was investigating a racist banner that appeared at a J-League match last weekend.
The banner, which read “Japanese Only” was written in English, and was initially speculated to be targeted towards South Korean-born striker Tadanari Lee (released from Southampton before the start of the season), and other Korean players in Sagan Tosu.
After the match, Urawa defender Tomoaki Makino tweeted after his team’s loss that “this is not the way to treat players who fight for this team with pride.”
I have never heard of these teams, since I’ve never watched J-League matches. However, I couldn’t agree with the defender more.
J-League chairman Mitsuru Murai told the media that the situation will be dealt in a “stern manner” if the banner is found to be discriminatory. The JFA had no immediate comment.
You can read more about the incident here:
Jae jumping in here. I’ve been following this story on Twitter since it broke, so I’ll add some things. The group that hung the banner has been identified and said that it was not aimed at Lee or Korean players. It was aimed at the increasing number of foreigners sitting/standing in the “hardcore” zone of fans. Hence why the banner was at the entrance into the stadium. The club, Urawa Reds, which is one of the biggest in Japan, has suspended the group (reportedly about 20 or so people) indefinitely. The league has handed Urawa a one-game stadium ban as a punishment. Generally speaking, the club and league have said all the right things. They have spoken about how the incident has greatly damaged the club and league’s reputation, and how serious the whole thing is. Both have pledged to be more careful and thorough in reviewing any banners/signs/flags that are brought into stadiums in the future.
Champions League: Leverkusen were dumped from the CL by PSG on Wednesday after a 2-1 win. Son did not start the match – subbed in for Castro in the 67th minute.
Stay tuned.
Jeremy Paek – Tavern Contributing Writer
Tavern Owner intruding > I’m going to add the weekend listing to this. We’re going to Korean Footballers Abroad (all times are in US EST / TV listed for US)
| Day | Time (ET) | Player | Club | Opponent | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | 3:30 PM | Hong Jeong Ho | Augsburg | Schalke | GolTV |
| Friday | 3:30 PM | Ji Dong Won | Augsburg | Schalke | GolTV |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM | Koo Ja Cheol | Mainz | TSG Hoffenheim | None |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM | Park Joo Ho | Mainz | TSG Hoffenheim | None |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM | Lee Chung Yong | Bolton | Brighton | None |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM | Kim Bo Kyung | Cardiff City | @Everton | NBC Extra Time |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM | Ki Sung Yueng | Sunderland | Crystal Palace | NBCSN |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM | Park Chu Young | Watford | Barnsley | None |
| Saturday | 1:30 PM | Son Heung Min | Bayer Leverkusen | @Bayern Munich | GolTV |
| Saturday | 1:45 PM | Park Ji Sung | PSV Eindhoven | @Vitesse Arnhem | GolTV |
-
K League Classic
- The weekend listing title is a misnomer as there is a game today – with Ji and Hong possibly seeing some action today for Augsburg – tough opponents with Schalke visiting.
- Watford twittersphere indicated the Park Chu-Young may have recovered from his injuries to appear in uniform for the Hornets on Saturday.
- Not listed: Yun Suk-Young (qpr) and Ryu Seung-Woo (bayer leverkusen) – though both have been on the radar for their respective clubs in recent weeks.
- Didn’t want to forget the Korean Women’s National Team – as indicated by Tavern patron AnJrue – that team just got 3rd place in the Cyprus Women’s Cup by beating Scotland in a game that went to penalties. http://www.cypruswomenscup.net/#!fixtures/c1nhz
- Stay tuned – there will be a post soon about Park Joo-Ho – he’s leaving Mainz to go serve in the Korean military at the end of the season – presumably joining Sangmu Sangju in the K-League Classic. We will revisit the conundrum facing Korean football with the mandatory military conscription issue which I wrote about in January for In Bed With Maradona. In that article, I listed one template that could balance national security needs and still work out means to further the national football program – but is there another possible solution to the problem that has held back some Koreans from advancing their careers further? Stay tuned…
Saturday
Incheon United vs Jeonbuk Motors 1 am
Busan I’Park vs Pohang Steelers 1 am
Seongnam vs Seoul 3 am
Sunday
Ulsan vs Gyeongnam 1 am
Suwon Bluewings vs Sangju Sangmu 1 am
Jeonnam Dragons vs Jeju United 3 am
Can I get some follow up on the Son incident with his teammate? That was kind of disturbing.
Hey I haven’t heard of any other fallout from the kerfuffle. The team PR team may be clamping down on any further negative news from trainings. I’m guessing (and hoping) that’s the last we’ll hear of this distraction…
Hopefully Ki is no longer toying with the idea of staying on with Sunderland. While Im beginning to see his actual potential vs hyped potential, I do think he has much more to offer on a better side. His passing ability should not be wasted here.
Imagine Ki wearing Manchester United shirt…It’s pretty much a wishful dream but I think he’ll fit very well. He’s a bit like Paul Scholes when it comes to long ball accuracy from midfield. Ki + Fellaini would be the most badass CM combination.
If I were to imagine, I would imagine Ki in a Real Madrid shirt. Xabi Alonso the CM playmaker is getting very old and I would like to see Ki play in his spot surrounded by CR7 (AKA the best player in the world), Modric, Gareth Bale, Khedira. But you know, these are just preposterous imaginations.
Thought that would be great in the past. But now I think Ki would be more a fill in for Modric rather than Alonso.
I actually thought Ki to United would make a lot of sense, but now I think Ki + Fellaini would be too weak defensively
Under anyone but Moyes. I think the guy has a poor disposition against Asians honestly. How else do you explain his underutilization of Kagawa? And I don’t think the guys ever been linked to an Asian during his tenure with Everton.
F the guy. betVictor has him 8/1 gone next week.
The camera panned towards his direction on the bench during the Pool match today. He looked like a battered canine stuck in a puppy mill.
I guess he’s Japan’s version of PCY.
Yeah Japan’s dealing with it a bit like Korea was. Kagawa is well out of it at United and Honda is really struggling to adapt at Milan. Both are in bad situations as the clubs are piss poor this year, and patience isn’t high. Milan tifosi have already labeled Honda a bust even though he got there in January.
I don’t think Moyes has any idea how to play with a #10 like Kagawa or Mata. Haven’t watched United much this year (did see them get battered last night) and they look like an old fashioned English side. 4-4-2/4-4-1-1, spread it wide, cross it in. Worked great with Beckham and Giggs on the wings. Now? Not so much.
Why does it seem like this site has gone quiet?
Haha, nothing happened. We’re all still here.
Yeah, just not much happening now. People come and comment a lot when the NT plays, but since there are no matches/news now things are quiet.
My bad, the actual Tavern had an emergency with the kitchen nearly collapsing into the basement. Pillars in place, floor joists reinforced, and we are back in business…
http://espnfc.com/video/espnfc/video/_/id/1752418/league/featured?cc=5901
Good highlights from around the Premier League. Ki made the cut at 7:18 mark of the video where he passed a semi-long ball to Borini, who just missed on finishing. It was a very good pass. And Liverpool killed ManU. Woot!
Oh, and the Special Pipsqueak lost to Aston Villa as well as got sent off. Nice. Rosicky had a wicked shot. It’s not KNT related, but they were notable things from the league. Kim BoKyung also made the highlight for giving up the cross that didn’t score but led to a rebound goal. It wasn’t really his fault in the end, but he did show his defensive liability in giving a little too much space to the guy off the ball that would eventually receive it and cross.