In a recent turn of events, Junya Ito has withdrawn from Japan's Asian Cup squad following the emergence of sexual assault allegations against him. The decision was made in mutual agreement with coach Hajime Moriyasu. However, Moriyasu remains confident that Ito's absence will not have a negative impact on the team's performance as they prepare to face Iran in the quarterfinals.
Ito, who had appeared in all three of Japan's group stage matches, was an unused substitute in their round of 16 victory over Bahrain. Reports in Japan revealed that two women had filed a criminal complaint against him, accusing him of sexual assault. The allegations have sparked an investigation in Osaka, although Ito and his lawyer vehemently deny the claims and have even filed a criminal complaint of their own, alleging falsehood in the accusations.
Initially, the Japan Football Association (JFA) announced that Ito would leave the national team setup due to concerns for his mental and physical well-being. However, a few hours later, the decision was reversed by national team director Masakuni Yamamoto, stating that they are working to keep Ito on the team. Nevertheless, on Friday, it was confirmed that Ito has indeed withdrawn from the squad.
Coach Moriyasu expressed his disappointment at losing Ito but acknowledged that they had to respect his wishes. He stated, 'I'm not building a team that will suffer if we lose one player. We have a team where everyone who can play, will play to their maximum potential.' Moriyasu remains confident that the team can overcome this setback and perform well in the upcoming match against Iran.
The quarterfinal clash against Iran promises to be a highly anticipated encounter between two heavyweight Asian teams. Both sides previously met in the semifinals of the 2019 Asian Cup, with Japan emerging as victors with a commanding 3-0 scoreline. Moriyasu emphasized that despite the challenging physical demands of the match, his team is professional enough to rise to the occasion.
While Iran faces the absence of striker Mehdi Taremi, who was sent off in their previous game against Syria, their coach Amir Ghalenoei and goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand expressed optimism about their recovery despite less than 72 hours between matches. Beiranvand stated, 'We know Japan is a very good team, they have very good players. But we are Iran, we have very good players too.'
Amidst the controversy and anticipation, the focus remains on the forthcoming match. Japan and Iran will lock horns at the Education City Stadium, with the winner advancing to the semifinals to face either defending champions Qatar or Uzbekistan. Football fans await an exciting spectacle between two top Asian teams, and both sides are ready to give their all.
