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Japan protests over China´s dangerous soccer play
CHONGQING, China (AFP) - Japan have filed a formal protest against hosts China for "dangerous" play after a number of players were hurt in heavy challenges during their East Asian championship clash, a Japanese team spokesman said Saturday.
Delegation chief Kuniya Daini handed in the petition to the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) on Friday, Futoshi Nagamatsu said.
Japan's Michihiro Yasuda was sent sprawling by a flying kick from China's goalkeeper Zong Lei, while defender Li Weifeng grabbed winger Keita Suzuki by the throat in the match on Wednesday.
Playmaker Yasuhito Endo also received a kick to the thigh which left him writhing on the floor.
The petition also asked the federation to examine dubious decisions by North Korean referee Song O-Tae during the match, which Japan won 1-0, Nagamastu said. Song booked four Chinese players but did not send anyone off.
"We cannot condone plays which threaten the competitive careers of players. There were also problems in the referee's game control," Daini, vice president of the Japan Football Association, told Japanese reporters late Friday.
"The petition was filed for the good of East Asian football," he said. "We have requested action so that these things will not happen again."
China also received five yellow cards in their 3-2 loss to South Korea on Monday.
The EAFF executive committee was expected to fine China as its rules stipulate that any team that receives four or more yellow cards in a match faces a 10,000 dollar fine, according to a Japanese official.
Earlier this week South Korea's women's team voiced disquiet to the Asian Football Confederation over the behaviour of China's captain Li Jie during the hosts' 3-2 win on Monday.
Li was accused of time-wasting after she collapsed on the pitch as South Korea prepared to take a corner deep into stoppage time.
She was taken off the field but hurried back to obstruct the corner, which was never taken as Thai referee Kamnueng Pannipar blew for full time. Li received a second yellow card for her antics.
Japan have faced a lot of hostility from Chinese fans during the four-nation round-robin tournament, which also includes South Korea and North Korea. The home supporters booed during the Japanese national anthem before their opening match against North Korea last week.
The crowd was more restrained during Wednesday's match but aimed abuse and plastic bottles at their own team after they lost the ill-tempered game.
Chinese fans' antipathy towards Japan comes from anger at their neighbour's World War II aggression, which saw the inland city of Chongqing come under heavy bombardment.
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