Japan cancel friendly, plan charity tie

Tokyo: Japan have cancelled a home international friendly scheduled for next week but said it would host a charity match to lift spirits after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Japanese football bosses scrapped the tie against Montenegro on March 25 but said they hoped to go ahead with a planned fixture against another quake-hit nation, New Zealand, on March 29 and turn it into a charity event. The Samurai Blue, who won a record fourth AFC Asian Cup in January, had been due to play Montenegro in Shizuoka in central Japan and New Zealand at Tokyo's National Stadium. "We have made the decision by taking into account such factors as the unfolding extent of enormous damage, fears over 'lifeline' necessities including electricity, confusion in public transportation and the safety of the stadiums and the visitors," the Japan Football Association (JFA) said. The association said it was negotiating with New Zealand to stage the match on March 29 as planned but in Japan's second city of Osaka, far away from the devastated coast where a nuclear emergency is unfolding. "We hope to play New Zealand, which like Japan has also suffered damage from a big earthquake," said JFA president Junji Ogura. Ogura said that a domestic team would play the Samurai Blue if the All Whites opted out. National football coach Alberto Zaccheroni said he wanted to use the match in Osaka to lift spirits. "I want to encourage people in the affected areas as much as possible," the 57-year-old Italian said in a message from Italy. "I want to use this event as my first step to assist the affected people in their reconstruction drive." Japan captain and Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe said he was willing to come home for the charity match. "We could unite as one and give full play to our potential at the World Cup and the Asian Cup because all of Japan cheered for us. I want to repay them," he said. A 9.0-magnitude quake and monster tsunami waves on Friday devastated the coastal area northeast of Tokyo, and triggered a major emergency at the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant. Many high-profile sporting events including J-League matches and two AFC Champions League games this week, involving J-League sides Kashima Antlers and Nagoya Grampus, were also postponed. The J-League has decided to shut the first and second divisions for the rest of the month, with an extension of that suspension seen as likely. Meanwhile, Japan are still planning to take part in the Copa America, the South American championship, in July despite a possible clash with rescheduled J-League games. "Our plan to take part in the Copa America remains as it is now. We have not touched it," an FA official said. http://www.the-afc.com/