The clash between Japan and Iran, which was to be the highlight of the Asian Cup, has been overshadowed by a sexual assault scandal. The Japan Football Association (JFA) suddenly announced that player Junya Ito, who is suspected of sexual assault, will miss the crucial match, causing Blue Samurai head coach Mori Boichi to express his deep regret at the pre-match conference. The attacker, who used to play for Ligue 1's Reims, has suffered physically and mentally and is unable to concentrate on the game.
Rewind to June last year, when Japanese media weekly Shinsho revealed that Junya Ito had allegedly sexually assaulted two women after a representative team match, a case that eventually escalated into criminal proceedings. Just as the Japan FA announced Ito's withdrawal from the team on Thursday, Japan team director Masahiro Yamamoto decided to suspend the decision six hours after the news was announced. Masahiro Yamamoto revealed that Mori Koichi and the players all wanted to play alongside Ito, but by Friday, FA president Yukizo Tashima personally held a press conference to firm up the decision to let the wing forward leave the national team.
