Source:REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
[Saba Sports News] Recently, Brighton’s youth academy posted an update on social media that surprisingly sparked significant controversy. The post featured Japanese international Kaoru Mitoma and youth academy players holding up photo cards depicting a Japanese military officer’s uniform from World War II. This content drew strong criticism from fans in multiple countries. Faced with the backlash, Brighton’s youth academy deleted the controversial post and subsequently issued an apology statement, expressing sincere apologies for the offense caused in China and emphasizing their high regard for Chinese fans, with no intention to offend. However, this apology statement had its comments restricted and was specifically directed at China, which further upset people from other affected countries. Regarding why the individuals were holding photos of that figure, the club only responded that it was due to an “oversight,” claiming neither the club nor the Premier League were aware beforehand, without providing a specific or reasonable explanation. The editor believes this incident serves as a wake-up call for the international sports community. Sports can never be entirely separate from history and values; sports like football carry spirits of peace and friendship, which must be built upon a proper acknowledgment of history and respect for others’ historical pain. Both clubs and players need to improve their sensitivity to history and culture.