How far should soccer fans go in supporting their club? Yokohama FC is currently having a little trouble off the pitch with some of their fans.

Some representatives of the Socio Fuliesta board, Yokohama FC's fan club, have recently applied for a provisional injunction against the J. League Division Two club at the Yokohama District Court. They want a list of Socio Fuliesta members returned as well as 7.4 million yen in membership fees.

Yokohama FC said it has left the legal case in the hands of its lawyers, but club officials looked puzzled by the request from the Socio board representatives. The club pointed out that the Socio Fuliesta was established as an umbrella organization for the fans, and that the Socio members list doesn't belong to the Socio board. The club also said that the money is part of the Socio membership fees collected by the club from each individual member, and does not belong to the Socio board.

On the club's Web site, many other Socio Fuliesta members also expressed their confusion, frustration and/or anger against the legal action, saying that the action was taken by a minority of Socio Fuliesta board members, and was not the consensus of the majority of Socio members. According to the club, 80 percent of Socio members did not want their personal information given to Socio board representatives.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time Yokohama FC have had problems with its supporters. A year ago, some of the then Socio Fuliesta board members attempted to make a takeover bid. That eventually was sorted out and an agreement reached whereby new president Yasuhiko Okudera was handed control of the fan club.

There are, however, some underlying issues that confuse the issue further.

Firstly, the club was founded by supporters of the now disbanded Yokohama Flugels, who are still weary of corporate involvement following the collapse of their former team.

Secondly, because it is "a club founded by the fans", Yokohama FC has always welcomed the fans' involvement in its club operations, and a portion of the Socio membership fee is used by the club to strengthen the team.

However there seems to be a difference in interpretation of the word operation (un-ei in Japanese) and this has led to further confusion.

The club thinks it meansfans working as volunteers checking tickets at the stadium gates and helping visitors find their seats -- as other clubs' fans do for their club. Yokohama FC has also encouraged Socio members suggest ways of attracting more fans to games.

But some of the Socio members, especially those who have taken legal action, seemingly believe that they should be more involved in club management.

Yokohama FC general manager Kazuyoshi Tanabe said, "We don't expect them to be involved in club management. Management (kei-ei in Japanese) and operation are different. I don't see what the real intention of these people is."

In an attempt to sort out the current confusion, the club has recently formed a new membership system for its fans in place of the Socio Fuliesta and the current Socio board members have been told their term will expire at the end of next month.

The trouble at Yokohama FC may just be one of internal discord. But it raises the question of how best can a club and its fans coexist.

Yokohama FC was only founded in 1999. It still has a lot to learn.