exist
Japanese team
The latest installment of the grand list released, embroiled in the sexual assault scandal of the
Junya Itoh
Once again, he fell out of the draft. In response, head coach Mori Boichi said in an interview that he did not call up Jun Ito in order to protect the player. Japanese media "Nikkan Hyundai" wrote an article revealing the reasons behind this decision.
Background of the incident
Following the revelation of Junya Ito's alleged sexual assault, Kirin Brewery and Adidas, the two major sponsors of the Japan Football Association, have yet to take a stance on the matter, even though the investigation is still ongoing. On the contrary, six partner companies have quickly cleared the air with Junya Ito. Among them, credit card company SAISON quickly deleted all the reports about Junya Ito on its official website, and currently no news related to Junya Ito can be retrieved from its official website.
Influence of sponsors and media
Other major JFA partner companies were also concerned about the impact on their brand image as a result of the Junya Ito incident. The JFA had to consider the stance of these sponsors as well as the opinions of the major television stations that broadcast the Japanese team's matches. Although there are still a lot of doubts about the sexual assault incident of Junya Ito, if he appears on the TV screen under such circumstances, it will be very unfavorable to the TV stations and sponsors if it causes any adverse effects.
Head Coach's Position
In an interview, Mori Baoichi said that Junya Ito was not called up to protect the player, but also to avoid a negative impact on the team and sponsors. Despite Junya Ito's excellent performance in Ligue 1, it will be difficult for him to return to the national team until there is a clear conclusion to the sexual assault case.
future outlook
The current situation suggests that unless Junya Ito is acquitted of all charges, it will be difficult for him to get a call-up to the Japanese national team, even if he performs well for his club. With other players emerging in Junya Ito's position, the likelihood of his gradual retirement from the national team is increasing.
