Aug 4 (Reuters) – Japan women’s soccer coach Norio Sasaki
hit back after being criticised for ordering the world champions
not to win their final first-round game at the London Olympics.
A defiant Sasaki denied any rule-bending on his part in
Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against South Africa.
“We never set out with the intention for playing for a
draw,” he told reporters after his team beat Brazil 2-0 in
Cardiff on Friday to reach the semi-finals. “We never tried to
play for a draw from the start.
“From the start we were playing for three points. I made a
decision based on the way the game was going and with time
running out.”
Sasaki’s instructions to his players not to press for a
winner against South Africa meant Japan went through in second
place behind Sweden in Group F.
It also ensured they stayed in Cardiff for Friday’s
quarter-final and did not have to travel to Glasgow, triggering
criticism from rival coaches.
“None of the players complained,” said Sasaki, whose team
will face France in the last four at Wembley on Monday. “We
wanted to stay (in Cardiff).”
Soccer’s governing body FIFA found there were insufficient
grounds to launch disciplinary action against Sasaki based on
his post-match comments.
However, the controversy came after eight players from South
Korea, China and Indonesia were kicked out of the women’s
badminton competition for trying to lose group matches to secure
easier draws in the knockout stages.
Continued…
