"It's not just the K League referees that are problematic"... Japanese legend Honda, who assaulted a J-League referee, delivers scathing criticism: "The situation gets increasingly severe as you go down to lower leagues"

*This content was translated by AI.

Referee controversies are not limited to the K League. Keisuke Honda (40), a former Japanese national team player, sparked controversy by making remarks that disparaged the quality of referees in his own country's football.

The Japanese outlet "Soccer Digest" reported on the 19th that Honda caused an uproar by posting on his social media (SNS) stating, "(While J2 League referees are also problematic), if you get to the level of Kanto League referees, (the mistakes) would not be at this level—they would be far more serious."

This was a rebuke to a junior player's criticism of decision-making issues in the J2 League, pointing out that the quality of officiating in lower amateur leagues is even more dismal and highlighting the poor reality of refereeing in Japanese football.

The controversy began with a J2 League Round 2 match between Yokohama FC and Jubilo Iwata (Yokohama won 3-1), which was marred by numerous questionable decisions. Immediately after the match, Takashi Inougi expressed his frustration, saying, "The refereeing is too harsh. Players improve their skills by moving overseas, but referee standards remain stagnant." On the 18th, Honda quoted this remark on his SNS and questioned the qualifications of lower-league referees.

Honda's remarks sparked intense debate online. Many Japanese netizens criticized Honda by pointing out the poor working conditions for referees. They noted, "Kanto League referees are essentially volunteers; how can he speak so rudely?" and "Leagues run on their support." Additionally, they highlighted the hardships faced by referees, stating that their pay and social status are far too low, with even a single mistaken call leading to them being treated like criminals.

Opinions also emerged criticizing the players' attitude or proposing structural alternatives. Some Japanese netizens dismissed the players' complaints, saying, "Truly strong teams do not blame referees." Others urged for environmental improvements, suggesting that "referees need to receive proper pay and have a foundation to grow" and that "players should attract more spectators to help raise referee salaries."

Currently, there are calls within and outside the Japanese football community to introduce video assistant referee (VAR) systems even in the J2 League, but the enormous implementation costs remain a major obstacle.

The media reported that "improving the environment through referee development and better working conditions is essential for the growth of Japanese football, yet it is a challenge that cannot be resolved in the short term."

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*This content was translated by AI.