Sanfrecce Hiroshima has taken decisive action following their disqualification from the AFC Champions League Two 2024/25 quarter-finals, with club president Masayoshi Kubo voluntarily imposing financial penalties on himself and two senior officials as a show of accountability.
Despite delivering a dominant 6-1 victory over Singapore’s Lion City Sailors in the first leg, Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s hopes of advancing were shattered when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ruled the match a 3-0 forfeit due to the club’s inadvertent fielding of an ineligible player, Valère Germain.
Germain, who had an unserved three-match suspension in AFC club competitions, was mistakenly included in the squad, leading to severe consequences. The second leg at Jalan Besar Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw, sealing Hiroshima’s 4-1 aggregate defeat and abrupt elimination from the competition.
Following the debacle, President and CEO Masayoshi Kubo took full responsibility for the club’s oversight, requesting to return 10% of his salary for six months as a penalty.
Additionally, other key executives involved in player management and registration will also face financial consequences:
• Yusuke Amano (General Manager, Strengthening Headquarters): 10% pay cut for one month.
• Keisuke Kurihara (Director of Reinforcement): 5% pay cut for one month.
Credit Photo : Dive! Hiroshima
