February 20, (THEWILL) – Japanese international footballer, Junya Ito, has filed a lawsuit seeking £1.05 million in compensation from two women accusing him of sexual assault, his lawyer announced this week.
The Reims winger denies any wrongdoing regarding the alleged 2020 incident in Osaka. He argues restoring his reputation quickly is crucial given the limited career span of players.
Ito’s physical trainer faces similar accusations, according to Japanese media reports published last month while Ito played for Japan at the Qatar Asian Cup. He subsequently withdrew from the squad ahead of their quarter-final, with the Japan FA citing a desire to shield the team from distractions.
Reims have expressed support for Ito while closely monitoring legal developments. He has played twice for them since returning from Japan duty. Ito’s 54 senior caps have yielded 13 goals.
His lawyer insists disproving the claims rapidly is vital for the 30-year-old. Japanese police continue investigating the case as Ito pursues damages through civil proceedings.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
