Urawa Reds drew 2-2 with Wuhan Sanzhen, a Chinese team in the first division, in the first match of the eastern group stage of the AFC Champions League (ACL) on March 20. The Taiwanese media reported on the relationship between the Chinese authorities and the Wuhan supporters, who staged an anti-Japanese campaign by displaying banners protesting the discharge of treated water from TEPCO’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the ocean.
Anti-Japanese sentiment in China has worsened in the wake of the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean. In addition to boycotts of Japanese products and harassing phone calls to Japan, a Chinese supporter sang a chant attacking Japanese people at a domestic league game in China last month.
The series of actions by the Wuhan supporters are undoubtedly tacitly approved and encouraged by the Chinese authorities. Urawa Reds players had nothing to do with the release of treated water. The Urawa Reds players have nothing to do with the release of treated water, and their actions amount to political and racist slogans,” he said, adding that the Chinese side could be punished if the Japanese side complained to FIFA, pointing out the possibility of violating FIFA regulations.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency also noted that Urawa and the Japan Football Association (JFA) had not expressed their protest to the Chinese side, even several days after the match was held. The JFA and Urawa, the JFA’s president, said, “They broke FIFA’s rule that prohibits political statements and actions inside and outside the stadium. Nevertheless, the JFA and Urawa seem to have taken no particular position on the matter,” he said, questioning the Japanese side’s lack of action.
