Prosecutors drop charges against Reims' Ito for alleged sexual assault

DUGOUTeyJrZXkiOiI3cEUzNWxLVCIsInAiOiJiZXNvY2NlciIsInBsIjoiIn0

The Osaka District Prosecutor's Office in western Japan has decided not to charge footballer Junya Ito, who was under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting two women in the summer of last year.

The announcement was made by his lawyer at a press conference on Friday, although no further details were released.

Ito, who played for Japan's national team at the 2022 World Cup, was suspected of assaulting two women at a hotel in Osaka in June 2023 while they were drunk after a friendly match against Peru on Japanese soil. The 31-year-old Ito, a midfielder with French club Stade de Reims, was sidelined from the national team during this year's Asia Cup over the allegations. He has not been called up again.

The Japanese footballer, who has denied the allegations against him, has filed a lawsuit against the two women, whom he accuses of lying, seeking 202 million yen (1.26 million euros) in damages. After the allegations came to light, Ito was sidelined from the Japan national team during its participation in the Asian Cup in Qatar and the player's sponsors terminated their contracts with him, causing him financial losses, he alleges.