Hiroki Sakai faces racial abuse following MBA enrollment news

Former Japanese international footballer Hiroki Sakai is facing racial abuse following news that he has enrolled at the Auckland University of Technology to pursue an MBA. Sakai, who currently plays for Auckland FC in New Zealand, expressed his excitement about working toward this long-held goal.

In response to the news, former French commentator Gilles Favart sparked controversy by referring to Sakai as ‘my favorite sushi restaurant’ on social media. The comment has been widely condemned as racist, with French media outlets such as La Dépêche du Midi labeling the remark as ‘shameful’.

This incident follows a history of tension between Sakai and Favart dating back to 2016 when Sakai joined Olympique de Marseille. The remarks highlight ongoing issues regarding racial discrimination against Japanese players in European football circles.