Fujieda MYFC addresses refereeing error in match against Tokushima Vortis

Fujieda MYFC has issued an official statement regarding a controversial decision during their J2 League match against Tokushima Vortis. The club confirmed that following formal procedures and discussions with officials, the Japan Football Association (JFA) referee committee acknowledged that a handball should have been called during the match.

Following the game, Fujieda manager Tomoaki Makino criticized the officiating during a post-match interview, describing the level of officiating as low. As a result, the J League Disciplinary Committee imposed a penalty on Makino, including a fine of 100,000 yen and a suspension from the bench for two matches.

The club stated that while they respect the difficulty of refereeing, they intend to use this incident as a catalyst for discussion to improve officiating accuracy and the overall competitive environment in Japanese football. Fujieda also requested that fans and observers refrain from slander or excessive criticism directed at referees and related officials.