Japan Pull Out of Copa America Again

The Japan Football Association (JFA) have announced that the nation have reinstated its initial plans to pull out of the Copa America in July after the body was unable to force clubs in Europe to release players for national duty.

Originally invited as a guest for the South American international soccer tournament, Japan chose to withdraw its participation following the devastating earthquake which hit the nation in March.

Since then the JFA announced that it would review this choice not to partake in the event and had announced a reversal of this decision but after deliberation, president Junji Ogura informed Argentinean organisers yesterday, May 17, that his country will be unable to field a team for the competition.

Meanwhile, J-League players will be busy making up five rounds of matches suspended in the wake of the natural disaster earlier in the year.

South American soccer’s governing body CONMEBOL have now invited Costa Rica to play in Japan’s place while Mexico are the other guest team.