Japan's top football league will not punish a teenage student who has apologized for sending racist messages to Gamba Osaka striker Patric because the incident happened outside a stadium.
The Brazilian was sent the messages on Twitter after scoring the third goal in Gamba's 3-1 extra time win over Urawa Red Diamonds in the J-League championship semifinal on Saturday. The student, his guardian and the school's vice principal apologized to Gamba and the player through the J-League, Kyodo News reported. The 28-year-old striker, who the league said had accepted the apology, was shocked by the abuse. "There were really disappointing and cruel, racially abusive posts. Anyone would be hurt by these," he posted on Twitter. "I'm really proud to be black. My son is black and we are really happy. This is the first time I've faced racial discrimination and I never dreamt of being on the receiving end in this country. "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. "The league says it is working to "stamp out racism" and last year forced Urawa to play one match behind closed doors after fans unveiled a sign that read, "Japanese Only" at their Saitama Stadium. The club, who were also fined 5 million yen ($40,700) in 2010 after fans taunted foreign players of Vegalta Sendai, banned the supporters that unveiled the banner indefinitely. Holders Gamba host Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first leg of the J-League final on Wednesday.
Gamba, Sanfrecce put title aspirations on the line
SUITA, OSAKA PREF. – Gamba Osaka manager Kenta Hasegawa hopes his players will get a second wind when the defending champions take on Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first leg of the J. League Championship final on Wednesday at Expo Stadium.
While Hiroshima, which advanced directly to the final after finishing with the most points over two stages, is on nine days’ rest, Gamba had to slog through extra time to beat Urawa Reds 3-1 in their playoff in Saitama on Saturday.
“I am sure the players are tired but they are fired up to battle it out in the final,” said Hasegawa, whose players have had a punishing season yet reached the Nabisco Cup final, the semifinals of the Asian Champions League and are still involved in the last eight of the Emperor’s Cup.
“We want to give it everything we have got,” he added.
Gamba finished third and snatched the last playoff spot on the final day of the regular season before goals late in extra time from Hiroki Fujiharu and Patric on Saturday booked their spot in the final.
Hasegawa’s men will also have revenge on their minds against Sanfrecce, having lost 2-0 at home to the 2012 and 2013 league champions on Nov. 7.
“We want a bit of payback (against Hiroshima) and want to get the home win,” said Gamba striker Takashi Usami. “We are all tired both mentally and physically but want to get a result.”
In contrast, Gamba captain Yasuhito Endo believes his team’s game against Urawa could give them the edge.
“We can’t afford to be saying we are tired,” said Endo, Japan’s most capped player. “Maybe the extra game (against Urawa) will give us an advantage in terms of match fitness.”
Hiroshima captain Toshihiro Aoyama said, “Gamba are a team of hard workers but we have got to get on with the job at hand.”
The second leg will take place at Edion Stadium on Saturday.
Albirex close to hiring Yoshida
Former Kashiwa Reysol manager Tatsuma Yoshida is in the final stages of discussions with Albirex Niigata to become their new manager for next season, sources said Tuesday.
Yoshida recently stepped down as manager of Kashiwa Reysol after leading the Chiba-based club to the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League this term, but seeing it finish 10th in the J. League overall standings.
Previously, the 41-year-old former midfielder had also served as the youth coach at Reysol, where he spent the first four seasons of his nine-year J. League career which ended in 2001.
Albirex barely managed to remain in J1 with an overall 15th-place finish this season. The J. League first-division side has not yet announced a successor for manager Masaaki Yanagishita, who was not offered a new contract for 2016.
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