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Japanese football authorities to take no action over racist tweet Japanese football authorities to take no action over racist tweet
(35 minutes later)
Football authorities in Japan will not take disciplinary action against Urawa Reds after one of the club’s fans apologised for sending a racist tweet to a black player on an opposing team.Football authorities in Japan will not take disciplinary action against Urawa Reds after one of the club’s fans apologised for sending a racist tweet to a black player on an opposing team.
The Japanese-language tweet, sent to Osaka Gamba striker Patric, said: “Die, black man.”The Japanese-language tweet, sent to Osaka Gamba striker Patric, said: “Die, black man.”
Japanese media reported that a high school student told his teachers he had sent the tweet and wished to apologise to the Brazilian player.Japanese media reported that a high school student told his teachers he had sent the tweet and wished to apologise to the Brazilian player.
The tweet, which has since been removed, came soon after Patric had scored an extra-time goal that helped eliminate Urawa from the J-League championship playoff semi-final at the weekend.The tweet, which has since been removed, came soon after Patric had scored an extra-time goal that helped eliminate Urawa from the J-League championship playoff semi-final at the weekend.
The unnamed student, who attends a high school in the prefecture where Urawa Reds are based, reportedly confided in his parents after his comments sparked criticism on social media, and later apologised to Patric through Urawa officials.The unnamed student, who attends a high school in the prefecture where Urawa Reds are based, reportedly confided in his parents after his comments sparked criticism on social media, and later apologised to Patric through Urawa officials.
“I was frustrated by the Reds’ defeat in the match,” he reportedly told the officials. “I did not intend to make a racist slur.”“I was frustrated by the Reds’ defeat in the match,” he reportedly told the officials. “I did not intend to make a racist slur.”
The J-league released a statement saying the striker had “fully understood and accepted” the teenager’s apology, as well as his “sense of regret and determination to apologise”.The J-league released a statement saying the striker had “fully understood and accepted” the teenager’s apology, as well as his “sense of regret and determination to apologise”.
Patric told reporters after training on Tuesday evening he had been saddened by the incident. “I’ve heard that a young man was behind it, so I would like him to be positive from now on,” he said.Patric told reporters after training on Tuesday evening he had been saddened by the incident. “I’ve heard that a young man was behind it, so I would like him to be positive from now on,” he said.
The 28-year-old player said he had been celebrating Gamba’s 3-1 win and their progress to the J-League championship final this week when he was dismayed to discover the “cruel, abusive” post.The 28-year-old player said he had been celebrating Gamba’s 3-1 win and their progress to the J-League championship final this week when he was dismayed to discover the “cruel, abusive” post.
“Anyone would be hurt by this,” he tweeted in Japanese. “I’m really proud to be black. My son is black and we are really happy. Only God knows how sad I am about this.“Anyone would be hurt by this,” he tweeted in Japanese. “I’m really proud to be black. My son is black and we are really happy. Only God knows how sad I am about this.
“This is the first time I’ve faced racial discrimination and I never dreamed of being on the receiving end [in Japan]. I really like and respect this country. For me this is the most well-mannered and cultured country in the world. I hope the matter will be properly dealt with. To the person who has posted this, you should not do these things as a human being.”“This is the first time I’ve faced racial discrimination and I never dreamed of being on the receiving end [in Japan]. I really like and respect this country. For me this is the most well-mannered and cultured country in the world. I hope the matter will be properly dealt with. To the person who has posted this, you should not do these things as a human being.”
It was not the first time fans of Urawa Reds, one of the best supported teams in Japan, have landed their club in trouble over racist behaviour. In March last year, the former Asian champions had to play a match in front of 63,000 empty seats after a group of fans displayed a banner two weeks earlier that read: “Japanese only”. It was not the first time fans of Urawa Reds, one of the best-supported teams in Japan, have landed their club in trouble over racist behaviour. In March last year, the former Asian champions had to play a match in front of 63,000 empty seats after a group of fans displayed a banner two weeks earlier that read: “Japanese only”.
The club received a heavy fine after it failed to remove the banner until after the end of the game at Saitama Stadium; the three fans who had put up the banner were given “indefinite” bans from all of the club’s home and away games.The club received a heavy fine after it failed to remove the banner until after the end of the game at Saitama Stadium; the three fans who had put up the banner were given “indefinite” bans from all of the club’s home and away games.
Urawa was also fined 5m yen (£27,000) in 2010 after its fans targeted non-Japanese players of Vegalta Sendai.Urawa was also fined 5m yen (£27,000) in 2010 after its fans targeted non-Japanese players of Vegalta Sendai.
Gamba will play Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first leg of the J-League championship final on Wednesday, followed by the second leg on Saturday.Gamba will play Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first leg of the J-League championship final on Wednesday, followed by the second leg on Saturday.