The seventeenth season of the J. League kicks off at the National Stadium in Tokyo tomorrow when reigning champions Kashima Antlers take on Emperor’s Cup holders Gamba Osaka in the season-opening Super Cup.
The clash between Japan’s league champions and the winners of the nation’s premier cup competition is an annual affair, but lately it’s been looking as stale as the All-Star clash that was given a radical overhaul last year.
Kashima Antlers conquered all before them the season before last, winning not only the J. League, but also beating relegated Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Emperor’s Cup final as well.
That meant that the same two teams came back to the National Stadium for the Super Cup clash just two months later, and no one can say that it wasn’t an eventful encounter.
That’s because referee Masaaki Iemoto took centre stage with a performance that stretched the bounds of credibility.
Iemoto sent off Kashima’s central defender Daiki Iwamasa for a second bookable offence just twelve minutes in, before Iemoto evened things up by sending Hiroshima midfielder Ri Han-Jae for an early bath before the first half had even ended.
By the time Hiroshima were awarded a dubious penalty ten minutes from time, the refereeing performance was looking decidedly fishy.
Tatsuhiko Kubo stepped up to convert the penalty – but only after referee Iemoto had ordered the spot-kick retaken due to encroachment.
Not surprisingly Hiroshima levelled the scores at 2-2 just five minutes later, and eventully the match went to penalties.
It was here that Iemoto’s performance deserves particular scrutiny.
Twice Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata saved spot-kicks, only for Iemoto to order them retaken.
Hiroshima converted both at the second attempt as they went on to win the match on penalties, prompting a pitch invasion from furious Kashima fans.
Antlers stalwart Go Oiwa was brandished a red card in the mayhem that followed, so he missed the start of the league campaign through suspension.
Not one of Iemoto’s controversial rulings appeared to be the correct decision.
In a region in which Asian betting syndicates often plunge huge wagers on the outcome of relatively meaningless fixtures, it was difficult to keep the terms “match fixing” and “J. League” from simultaneously crossing people’s lips.
Poor refereeing has long been a blight on the J. League.
But so controversial was Iemoto’s Super Cup performance that he was promptly slapped with a “cooling off period” by the Japan Football Association – whatever that means.
Part of the problem stems from a Japanese fondness for authority.
Questioning authority in Japan is a heinous social faux pas, but that’s not a particularly helpful attitude within the passionate confines of a football game.
That’s something that Japanese referees are yet to comprehend, and their reaction to players questioning them is often bizarre.
In an infamous case last season, referee Yuichi Nishimura told respected Oita Trinita defender Taikai Uemoto to “die,” because Uemoto had questioned why a decision went against him.
That outburst made headlines around the globe and deeply embarrassed the J. League, although they predictably responded by denying that it ever took place.
The culture of censorship is one of the most wearisome aspects of the Japanese game.
So too is the Super Cup – now looking more pointless than ever given that Gamba Osaka’s star signings Cho Jae-Jin and Leandro both look set to miss the match through injury.
With rain forecast in the capital, not too many Gamba Osaka fans are likely to make the cross-country slog to the open-air National Stadium to watch a depleted side do battle against the best team in the land.
Kashima’s home opener with Urawa Reds is already sold out, but I can’t see more than 25,000 fans turning out in the capital for the Super Cup.
It begs the question of why the Asian Football Confederation considers it such a marvellous idea to host a one-off Champions League final at Tokyo’s crumbling National Stadium.
But that’s a tale for another day.
For now, the only reason to take an interest in the Japanese Super Cup is to determine just how bad this season’s refereeing will be.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
One of the strangest things I've ever seen in Japanese football, Ben, was at a children's charity tournament just a couple of months ago. Despite officiating a match between two sets of girls high school teams, one particularly zealous referee whistled for every single foul throw. Each time he did, he trotted over to the girls and patiently explained the mechanics of how to take a throw-in. I watched on in amazement because I've never seen a J. League game that didn't contain at least one foul throw, and I was impressed with this particular referee's decision not to simply turn a blind eye. But aside from the old boys networks that sustain Japanese football (and politics, and much of corporate life) consistency remains a key problem with Japanese referees. Often a referee will ruin an adequate performance by bottling the key decision of the match - and that seems to occur throughout the divisions. As for V-Varen Nagasaki, I wonder if they'll even have time to reach J2 before the J. League starts laying down some concrete plans for a fully professional third division?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Incidentally, Mike, what is the refereeing like in the lower reaches of Japanese professional football? All I ever really see is the J-League however I wonder if deeply flawed referees such as Iemoto permeate Japanese football or whether, as in Japanese politics, they manage to stay afloat through a Byzantine (or Shogunate) web of alliances, debts and favours. This would mean that referees such as Iemoto are reflective of the system as opposed to being reflective of the quality on offer. I say this as the only side I can make any real claim to in Japan (FC Tokyo aside), is mighty V-Varen Nagasaki who've had their J-League Associate membership approved earlier this month and are making a bold bid for J2. I'd hate to see the bid derail on the train wreck that appears to be Japanese refereeing.
Midfielder
Guest
Mike Enlightening and excellent article again .... Makes me think the 5-4 Mariners night at Bluetounge when Kossies choppers kicked the crap out of the Mariners all night and got away with it and we had two sent off, four carried off, two on the field covered in bandages and blood ........ Heff with his leg shattered just outside our box and Hutch appeals and is given a yellow card, Choppers get a free, Heff out for 18 months.... the ref has been rewarded since... How there was not a riot that night I will never know.... also how that performance was never made more of I am forever puzzled. I have hated the Choppers ever since .... but you do raise a number of good points from lack of skill to criminal gangs getting involved ... maybe a watch this space.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
He most certainly was taken off the J. League's referee list, Ben (you've got a good eye for these things). He was actually handed a a six-month "cooling off period" by the JFA after the Super Cup fiasco last year, but not surprisingly was back refereeing in J2 a few months later. Iemoto is the worst of a bad bunch - but if Australian fans had a look at some of the referees going around in the J. League, they'd surely think twice before criticising the standard of officiating in the A-League.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Didn't Iemoto get removed from the J-League refereeing register back in 2006? He has made a mockery of the J-League and I too could only think of one reason for his bizarre decision making in an exceptionally tight season. I also remember watching the World Cup Qualifier with Thailand v Yemen where Matsumura managed to find 8 yellows and a red. Interesting indeed. That said there are referees such as Toru Kamikawa who didn't do too bad a job and I am given to understand that he has taken a job with administering the referees following his retirement. Imagine how the Australian fans would react if Iemoto tried those tactics here....... it wouldn't be pretty. Regarding the Japanese allowing those that make a public mockery of themselves to stay on, one cannot help but think of the recent performance of ex-Finance Minister Nakagawa at the G7 media conference. Aso, I believe, asked him to stay on. He decided to resign instead. If only Iemoto would do the same.