The J.League on Monday set a stern policy against slander and harassment of team members and referees, stating that such matters will be dealt with rigorously, including potential legal action.
Last October, J1 newcomers Machida Zelvia filed a complaint to the Tokyo District Court after their players and staff members were subjected to continuous malicious online abuse, calling for those who posted the comments to be penalized on defamation and other charges.
"Each club and the J.League will unite and take a resolute stance" against illegal or unjust behaviors, the league said.
Physical or mental attacks, coercive words or actions, breach of privacy and slanders on social media or the internet were among the actions listed to fall under that category.
The league said it will hold lectures for its staff to gain knowledge on harassment by customers and ways to handle it.
Racial discrimination during matches will be dealt with by stopping, suspending or abandoning the match pursuant to the FIFA procedure, said the league.
© KYODO
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Mr Kipling
So no more "banter" or winding up the corner kicker? Part of football since before my grandad.
Japantime
Unfortunately Japanese supporters follow supporters in England and Europe where there is a lot of racial abuse against players. I have heard soccer fans abuse their own teams players. I haven’t heard this is in American sports.
Meiyouwenti
Those footballers play for money. Verbal abuse and slander from ticket paying fans are part of their job.
Jimizo
Thankfully much less in the stadiums than before.
More of a problem now with garbage spammers and sock puppets on social media.
Dregs. Real trash.
dbsaiya
So what prompted this? Urawa Reds fans were notorious for this several years back and you mean to say that nothing was done until now?
Jimizo
So you’d say things like being racially abused are part of their job?
kohakuebisu
If "malicious" means "racist" or "homophobic", they should call a spade a spade.
Presumably it doesn't refer to managers being clueless, defenders being donkeys, or forwards not hitting a barn door.
Bruce Pennyworth
Shame, sports being overrun with mental midgets. Accountability matters. Making more money a week then most people have for disposable income in a year. If they spend their hard earned money on tickets and you are underperforming as a player you have to accept it
grc
Japan certainly has its share of trolls