Ito removed from Japan squad at Asian Cup over sexual assault claims he denies

Can't agree with the JFA here I'm afraid. Ito has to have the presumption of innocence. Let him have his day in court before taking any punitive action. It will be a tragedy if he misses - as expected - Samurai Blue hoisting the famous Cup.

From what I've seen of Ito in interviews he seems very polite and well mannered. Hard to believe he is behind these heinous crimes.

Ito has to have the presumption of innocence

Not in Japan. He has to PROOVE his innocence and even then, he will forever have the asterisk next to his name, and have this accusation brought up anytime his name is mentioned.

All it takes now a days, is to have someone make an accusation, and careers and lives are finished.

Fighto!Today  06:13 am JST

From what I've seen of Ito in interviews he seems very polite and well mannered. Hard to believe he is behind these heinous crimes.

While I agree with the presumption of innocence, I’d find your last statement laughable if it weren’t such a dangerous misconception. How does one being polite and well mannered in an interview have anything to do with whether or not they’re capable of sexual assault?

If….if the accuser/accusers are found to be false. Then they should be seriously punished as would the accused if he were found guilty.

For the victims to come out and make the accusations in Japan means he’s most likely until he proves he’s innocent.

.if the accuser/accusers are found to be false. Then they should be seriously punished 

And so should the JFA executives who decided to suspend him.

This is too much power for women. No amount of money or punitive damages can make up for opportunities lost. Any successful man is a target for women to marry. If he dismisses them, these women are left with the feeling that they were entitled to a life by his side.

Furthermore, what happened to innocent until proven guilty? Men have the right to break up with women who feel are not a good match. At least with Jonathon Majors, Disney didn't fire him until the verdict. I know some sponsors ditched him, but that's not your job.

Men need to mobilize for better legislation to protect any man from accusations. Especially vindictive accusations. You take away my dream, so I take away yours.

This is extremely complex. My viewpoint is that since JFA does not know he's guilty, they shouldn't sanction him. They may throw the book at him as hard as they like as soon as it is proved. Kick out of the game altogether if they want to take it that far.

In the case of Benjamin Mendy, a Man City player accused of multiple orgy type rapes, the case against him collapsed when evidence such as one of the accusers texting her friends saying "just had the night of my life. I slept with Jack Grealish!" came out. In the public's eye, Mendy is still guilty. Man City stopped playing him and his football career was pretty much destroyed.

Rape is extemely serious, but the real victims are everyday women in everyday situations, not so much drunk women besotted with male celebrities. Being severe on Ito here will not help everyday women in everyday situations. By all means have a crusade against rape, but focus on the 100% no-consent-whatsoever cases (current conviction rate, about 2%), not the "was there? wasn't there consent?" cases.

Guilty before innocent.

English news is a bit behind. He has email from one of the girls after the "rape" occurred wherein she says, "Let's go out again" and email from both of the girls saying "Let's go to Universal Studios together!"

Ito is suing both the body that decided to kick him off the team in addition to the two girls. Good for him!

Ito is suing both the body that decided to kick him off the team 

Good to hear! I hope he takes Japan Football to the cleaners and forces resignations. Horrible organisation rin shockingly. He will miss out on the likely Cup glory.

Guilty of course ,thankfully brave japanese ladies are coming forward to expose the crimes these so called super stars commit .Hopefully this male dominated culture will take note .

The jury is still out, so we must wait until the facts are all in before making a balanced judgment.

Right decision.

This is to keep the team in a good playing condition and get away from all the possible external disturbances this would create. The coach would have been asked questions at every press conference, and the team would have been more under pressure. Not sure all the teammates would have supported him. It is one team but in the mind of everyone, there are rivals .

Anyway, we do not know what happened and there is a lot of leniency for Ito. He might have or not done something. Let the investigation decides and not the social networks.

there have been many scandals involving athletes in Japan. By now, there should be an independent body that can quickly ascertain whether the accusations are credible or not.

No matter where the fault lies, too big a distraction for the National Team that's struggled of late. We need W's!

I like his play style, but either he's somewhat or even very deviant or unable to exercise good partner selection judgment. Either way, he's paying a BIG Price!

If….if the accuser/accusers are found to be false. Then they should be seriously punished as would the accused if he were found guilty.

So if something did actually occur (know to the victim and perpertrator alike) but the victim cannot prove it 100% - they should be punished?

That's a dangerous precedent, too.

Innocent until proven guilty in my book and so it should be.

Redtail SwiftToday  08:33 am JST

This is too much power for women. No amount of money or punitive damages can make up for opportunities lost. Any successful man is a target for women to marry. If he dismisses them, these women are left with the feeling that they were entitled to a life by his side. 

Hahahaha! Oh my goodness! Thanks for the laugh. You should be sure to let all the women stalked, harassed, assaulted and murdered by men know that they simply have too much power.

Furthermore, what happened to innocent until proven guilty? Men have the right to break up with women who feel are not a good match. At least with Jonathon Majors, Disney didn't fire him until the verdict. I know some sponsors ditched him, but that's not your job.

Sports and entertainment are businesses and the owners have every right to let go people who they feel are going to be detrimental to those businesses.

Men need to mobilize for better legislation to protect any man from accusations. Especially vindictive accusations. You take away my dream, so I take away yours.

Mobilize by aiming to control more of the world’s corporations and governments than they already do? Oh, wait. No, that’s women who have too much power, right?

Again, thanks for the laugh. I nearly split my sides.

Fighto...

From what I've seen of Ito in interviews he seems very polite and well mannered. Hard to believe he is behind these heinous crimes.

So no need for a trial. Polite and we'll mannered? Couldn't possibly be guilty.

This issue is no different than groupies and rock-and-roll bands. I know. I was there. And my bandmates didn't vilify me, nor did I vilify them, for sex with wannabes. And the wannabes, after the fact (deed) didn't go crying to mamma (read media).

TrevorPeaceToday  06:05 pm JST

This issue is no different than groupies and rock-and-roll bands. I know. I was there. And my bandmates didn't vilify me, nor did I vilify them, for sex with wannabes. And the wannabes, after the fact (deed) didn't go crying to mamma (read media).

We just don't know, though I'd venture you're spot on, but deviant scenario not unrealistic either. National Team's not taking any chances!

Learned something else today. Apparently the soccer organization removed him because he had extramarital relations - not because he may or may not have raped anyone. But that's still a load of cr*p because if it's illegal, he'll get punished, if it's not, then MYOFB.

The timing is impeccable. This goes much deeper than what we are being told.

They lost the game against Iran anyways. So much for being favorites and after so much commotion winning against Germany. Good luck next time, heh

Many posters are sadly mistaken here. This is not a court of law, there is no presumed Innocence,.

The sports world is rife with cases like this and the primary goal is to protect integrity of the sport.

owzerFeb. 3  09:17 pm JST

Learned something else today. Apparently the soccer organization removed him because he had extramarital relations - not because he may or may not have raped anyone. But that's still a load of cr*p because if it's illegal, he'll get punished, if it's not, then MYOFB.

I would imagine there are similar terms in place for the national team.

“The J.League rule provides that ‘[players] shall not conduct any activity that interferes with J.League’s objective achievement and that is contrary to the public order and morals’, and if the player violates this clause, the player can be sanctioned by the J.League. Player contracts also stipulate that if the player violates any criminal laws or corrupts the morals of his or her club, the club may sanction the player or terminate his or her contract.

The NPB rule provides that the ‘Club, Commissioner or both can impose fines, or suspend the player for a certain period of time due to any player’s misconduct’. However, in contrast to contracts in the J.League, there is generally no morality clause in individual player contracts.

These provisions are executed from time to time, and players have been sanctioned according to these clauses.”

Japan lost to Iran 2:1. Japanese players are coming home, or at least returning to European leagues as they have long wished.

Player contracts also stipulate that if the player violates any criminal laws or corrupts the morals of his or her club, the club may sanction the player or terminate his or her contract.

"corrupts the morals"

That's assuming clubs have morals to begin with.

This issue is no different than groupies and rock-and-roll bands. I know. I was there. And my bandmates didn't vilify me, nor did I vilify them, for sex with wannabes. And the wannabes, after the fact (deed) didn't go crying to mamma (read media).

No. I think it is different. I don’t think your pervy antics in a pub band equate to a scandal around a World Cup national team member.