Football: Japan complain over lasers at Jordan

JFA president had been appalled by the actions of a minority of home fans at the game in Amman.

TOKYO: Japanese football chiefs said they had lodged a formal complaint with the world governing body Fifa and Asian authorities after their players were allegedly targeted by lasers during the 2-1 World Cup qualifying loss to Jordan.

“We filed a complaint with both Fifa and Asian Football Confederation about it. We are not sure if we will receive any answer from them,” said a Japan Football Association (JFA) official.

JFA president Kuniya Daini told reporters late Wednesday he had been appalled by the actions of a minority of home fans at the game in Amman on Tuesday, when Jordan shocked the Blue Samurai.

“I hope such a thing will never happen again,” he said. “During the break at half-time an announcement was made on the stadium speaker system warning fans not to use laser pointers.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2013.