Kwansei Gakuin Rejects Nihon Univ. Explanation over Ugly Tackle

May 17, 2018

Nishinomiya, Hyogo Pref.- Kwansei Gakuin University on Thursday rejected a written response by Nihon University to its complaint about a dangerous tackle on one of its players by a Nihon University player in a recent American football match that pitted the archrivals against each other.

During a press conference in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, Kwansei Gakuin expressed its intention to demand that Nihon University give an additional response around May 24.

The response "did not resolve our questions and doubts and thus cannot be judged as sincere at the moment," Kwansei Gakuin said.

The Kwansei Gakuin Fighters sent a complaint on May 10, calling for an explanation and apology for the dangerous act that injured a Fighters player, and the Nihon University Phoenix made the response on Tuesday.

The Phoenix said in the written response: "We have never taught players to play rough intentionally. We demand that players give their all based on rules."

"The problem lies in a gap between instructions by a coach and how players took the instructions. We deeply regret the teaching method," the Phoenix said.

During a match in Tokyo on May 6, a Fighters quarterback was hit from behind by a Phoenix defensive player, about two seconds after throwing the ball. The quarterback suffered a minor back injury.

After the match, Phoenix head coach Masato Uchida reportedly made comments that appeared to condone dirty play.

At the press conference, Fighters football director Hiromu Ono said the response from the Phoenix did not address whether the defensive player or the coach is to blame. "We want to know the full truth," he said.

Fighters head coach Hideaki Toriuchi said the tackle in question was "vicious and intentional." "If that is permitted, this can no longer be called a sport anymore," he said.

The Phoenix said in the response that the team would withdraw the comments in question from Uchida because they could be taken to condone foul play. Jiji Press