Midfielder of the Japanese national team Junya Ito left the national team location due to allegations of rape. This was reported by the press service of the national team.
The JFA statement
Out of consideration for Ito's mental and physical wellbeing, we have decided that the player will leave the team from today. Junya Ito is leaving the Japan team competing at the Asian Cup in Qatar.
In mid-January, two women filed a lawsuit against Ito, accusing him of rape. According to them, the incident happened in the summer of 2023 in a hotel in the city of Osaka, where the Japanese national team was resting after winning a friendly game with Peru (4:1).
The 30-year-old footballer said that the sexual contact indeed happened, but it was consensual.
Ito played 54 matches in the national team of Japan, scoring 13 goals.
