China News Service, Beijing, February 3 (Reporter Xing Rui) Japanese football player Junya Ito, who was recently involved in a sexual assault scandal, finally quit the national team during the Asian Cup. This matter sparked heated discussions in the football world.
According to Japanese media reports, at the press conference before the Asian Cup quarter-finals, Japanese team coach Mori Yasuichi said in response to the matter that he hoped that the outside world would not put too much pressure on Junya Ito.
Japanese men’s football coach Yasuichi Mori (file photo)
"I hope you don't put too much pressure on him because of these accusations. He is a great player in Asia." Mori Yasuichi added.
"If possible, I want to fight with Junya until the end. He is someone who has contributed to the team's victory. I am disappointed that he left, but I want to take care of his mental and physical health first."
Regarding Junya Ito's current state, Mori Yasuichi revealed: "He can express normally, but his current mental state is not suitable for high-intensity games. I want to support him as much as possible so that he can perform at his best as soon as possible .”
Screenshots from Japanese media reports
Previously, Japanese media revealed that international player Junya Ito had sex with two women without their consent. The two women have filed a criminal complaint with the Osaka Prefecture police.
According to reports, after a match between Japan and Peru in June last year, Junya Ito invited two women to dinner. One of the women said they were assaulted by Junya Ito while drunk at a hotel in Osaka.
Once this incident was reported, it caused an uproar in Japan. Ito Junya’s lawyer Kato Houtaro said in an interview with the media that Ito Junya’s sexual assault was false information. Hirotaro Kato revealed that he had submitted a complaint of false accusations to the Osaka Prefectural Police and it had been accepted.
Screenshots from Japanese media reports
The Japan Football Association also responded quickly to the matter. On the 2nd local time, Japan Football Association Chairman Tajima Kozo officially announced at a press conference in Tokyo that after consultation with head coach Mori Yasuichi, it was decided to let Ito Junya leave the Japanese national team and withdraw from the ongoing Asian Cup.
"We also considered letting Ito Junya stay, but we need to create an environment where he can focus on football. We made this decision after considering Ito Junya's comprehensive situation." Tajima Kozo added road.
For the Japanese team, which is competing in the Asian Cup, the whole incident is undoubtedly a huge blow.
Junya Ito (right) during the game (data photo taken by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cui Nan)
Public information shows that Junya Ito was born in 1993 and currently plays for the French Ligue 1 team Reims. As a typical representative of Asia's top forwards, Junya Ito has outstanding explosive power, dribbling ability and abundant physical fitness. In the early morning of the 4th, Beijing time, the Japanese team will face the Asian Cup quarter-finals against Iran. The absence of Junya Ito has made the Japanese team's promotion prospects unclear.
Some Japanese netizens expressed dissatisfaction with the Japan Football Association's decision. Some netizens said: "If you don't trust your players, what's the point. Please withdraw this decision." Someone else said: "This is frustrating and sad. I hope to prove Ito Junya's innocence as soon as possible. "
Regarding Junya Ito's departure from the team, lawyer Houtaro Kato believes: "The unprecedented decision to let Junya Ito leave the Japanese national team cannot be made because of this kind of fabricated information. This happened during the Asian Cup The matter is extremely bad, and we have taken measures." (End)