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Reims’ Junya Ito Left Out Of Japan Squad Amid Alleged S3xual Assault
Junya Ito, the Japanese winger, has been left out of Japan’s squad to face North Korea in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
This decision comes after Ito’s exit from the Asian Cup amidst sexual assault allegations. The 30-year-old player left the tournament in Qatar after it was revealed that he was under investigation by’ Japanese police over an alleged incident in Osaka in 2023. It has denied the allegations and_ is suing his accusers for 200 million yen (S$1.8 million) in damages.
“Ito’s departure from the Asian Cup was a difficult decision, but it was made to protect both him and_ the team from the intense media scrutiny and_ distractions that could have arisen,” explained Japan’s coach, Hajime Moriyasu.
Despite denying the allegations and_ taking legal action against his accusers, Ito’s absence from the national team has been deemed necessary to ensure a calm and_ focused environment for the team. Moriyasu emphasized, “We must prioritize the well-being of our players and_ maintain a cohesive team spirit, especially in the face of challenging circumstances.”
While Ito has been actively playing for French club Reims, his exclusion from the upcoming matches against North Korea shows the seriousness of the situation and_ the impact it has had on his international career. In his absence, veteran full-back Yuto Nagatomo has been surprisingly recalled to the squad, marking his return to the national team after a hiatus since the 2022 World Cup.
“The decision to recall too was based on his experience, leadership qualities, and_ the need for stability within the team during this period of transition,” Moriyasu commented on the veteran player’s return.
In addition to the developments related to Ito, goalkeeper Zion’s retention in the squad despite facing online racial abuse during the Asian Cup, and_ the return of goalkeeper Keisuke Osako following his absence due to injury. ” As a team, we stand united against any form of discrimination or abuse and_ we support our players in facing such challenges with resilience and_ determination,” Morasu stated in response to Suzuki’s experience of racial abuse.
