Sports · Football · 3 hrs ago
Fujieda manager suspended after criticizing referees, despite JFA admitting error
J.League suspended Fujieda MYFC manager Tomoaki Makino for two matches and fined him ¥100,000.
The case followed Fujieda’s match against Tokushima Vortis in Japan’s second-tier J2 league on October 24.
A Tokushima defender’s arm was hit by the ball in the penalty area, but the referee did not award Fujieda a penalty.
After the match, Makino criticized the referees in a public interview, and the league said his remarks showed a serious lack of respect.
Japan’s football refereeing chief said the call should have been handball, while explaining that referees are assessed after each match.
The suspension applies to Fujieda’s matches against Blaublitz Akita and Júbilo Iwata, with assistant coach Yoshiaki Ota set to lead the team.
The league also warned people not to target referees or individuals with abusive online posts.
J.League suspended Fujieda MYFC manager Tomoaki Makino for two matches and fined him 100,000 yen over comments criticizing referees.
The punishment followed his post-match remarks after a decision not to award Fujieda a penalty against Tokushima on October 24.
The Japan Football Association’s referees committee chairman said on October 29 that the correct decision should have been a handball.
J.League said Makino’s comments amounted to a serious protest against a referee and showed a marked lack of respect.
The suspension applies to Fujieda’s matches against Blaublitz Akita and Júbilo Iwata.
- Who
- Tomoaki Makino, manager of Fujieda MYFC.
- What
- He received a two-match bench suspension and a 100,000-yen fine for comments criticizing referees.
- When
- The punishment was announced on October 29, 2026, after comments made following the October 24 match.
- Where
- The comments followed Fujieda MYFC’s J2 match against Tokushima Vortis.
- Why
- J.League ruled that the comments were an improper and serious protest against a referee, and showed a marked lack of respect.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Fujieda played Tokushima, and the referee did not award a penalty after the ball struck Tokushima defender Hayato Tanaka’s left arm.
Makino criticized the referees in a post-match interview.
J.League announced Makino’s two-match suspension and 100,000-yen fine, and JFA referees committee chairman Kenji Ogiya said the correct decision should have been a handball.
Makino’s suspension covers Fujieda’s matches against Blaublitz Akita and Júbilo Iwata.
- Manager
- Tomoaki Makino
- Club
- Fujieda MYFC
- Penalty
- Two-match bench suspension and 100,000-yen fine
- Disputed call
- No handball penalty awarded against Tokushima on October 24
- JFA view
- The correct decision should have been a handball
- Suspension matches
- Blaublitz Akita on October 31; Júbilo Iwata on November 3
3 sources
What people are saying
I believe it was a handball. Unfortunately, the correct decision could not be reached.
This conduct showed a marked lack of respect for the referees.
We need to seriously raise the level of J2 referees, or it will fall apart.