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.