Defender Yoshida Maya (33) – Sampdoria – was subjected to discriminatory provocation from the enemy audience. When he was interviewed after the match, he responded to insults from the stands, and with a demonic look on his face, he fought back. He was stopped by a public relations officer for the Japan Football Association, but his anger never subsided. Yoshida harshly pointed out, “There was a discriminatory gesture. It was unacceptable.” The same act was also observed during the qualifying rounds in the last tournament in September 2017, and Yoshida calmly said, “I thought it was unforgivable.” Chunichi Sports
![[Soccer 2022 World Cup]Yoshida Maya in an interview after Saudi Arabia’s defeat in the war, can’t stand the discriminatory gestures and insults from local supporters protest against the audience. [Soccer 2022 World Cup]Yoshida Maya in an interview after Saudi Arabia's defeat in the war, can't stand the discriminatory gestures and insults from local supporters protest against the audience.](https://www.jp2021.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/1759480563_maxresdefault-1170x658.jpg)
JP2021.COM