# J2 League refereeing controversy and disciplinary action

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/j2-league-refereeing-controversy
> Updated: 2026-11-01T03:05:57.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 3.

Following a 0:1 defeat against Tokushima Vortis, Fujieda MYFC manager Tomoaki Makino publicly criticized J2 League officiating standards. Makino claimed the refereeing level was “dangerously low” following a disputed handball incident, suggesting such quality could damage the league’s reputation. During the match, Makino received a yellow card for protesting to the assistant referee.

In response to the controversy, the J.League issued Makino a two-match suspension and a 100,000 yen fine. The Japan Football Association (JFA) refereeing committee chairman, Kenji Ogitani, admitted that officials failed to make the correct decision regarding the handball incident. 

Fujieda MYFC issued an official statement noting that while the club respects the difficulty of refereeing, they intend to use the incident as a catalyst for discussions to improve officiating accuracy and the competitive environment. The club also requested that fans refrain from slander or excessive criticism directed at officials.

Addressing technological solutions, J.League executive Shinji Kubota noted that implementing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the J2 League faces significant hurdles. These include annual costs estimated between 600 to 700 million yen, necessary stadium infrastructure upgrades, and a shortage of qualified officials. Specifically, implementing VAR would require increasing the total number of referees by approximately 40 people to cover the additional roles required per match.

## Claims

- Fujieda MYFC manager Tomoaki Makino received a two-match suspension and a 100,000 yen fine. (reported by 3 sources)
- The JFA refereeing committee concluded that a missed handball during the October 24 match should have been a correct decision. (reported by 2 sources)
- Implementing VAR in the J2 League would require a minimum annual cost of 600 to 700 million yen. (reported by 2 sources)
- J2 VAR implementation would require an increase of approximately 40 referees to the total pool. (reported by 1 source)
- Some J2 stadiums currently lack the necessary infrastructure to install VAR cameras. (reported by 1 source)

## Timeline

### 2026-11-01: Fujieda MYFC addresses refereeing error in match against Tokushima Vortis

Fujieda MYFC released a statement after the JFA confirmed a missed handball in their match against Tokushima Vortis, following a suspension for manager Tomoaki Makino.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fujieda-myfc-addresses-refereeing-error-in-match-against-tokushima-vortis

### 2026-10-29: J2 League: Fujieda Manager Makino Suspended Over Referee Criticism

Fujieda MYFC manager Tomoaki Makino has been suspended for two matches and fined 100,000 yen following harsh criticisms of J2 referees. J.League officials also cited high costs and staffing shortages as hurdles

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/j2-league-fujieda-manager-makino-suspended-over-referee-criticism

### 2026-10-24: Fujieda MYFC manager Makino criticizes J2 refereeing standards

Fujieda MYFC manager Tomoaki Makino has drawn criticism after labeling J2 refereeing standards as “low level” following a disputed handball decision in a loss to Tokushima Vortis.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fujieda-myfc-manager-makino-criticizes-refereeing-standards

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Cite as: J2 League refereeing controversy and disciplinary action. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/j2-league-refereeing-controversy