KAWASAKI (Kyodo) J. League leaders Kawasaki Frontale decided Thursday to hand back their ¥50 million runners-up prize following criticism over player behavior during the Nabisco Cup final award ceremony.
Kawasaki, beaten 2-0 by FC Tokyo at National Stadium on Tuesday, has slapped defender Yusuke Mori with a suspension for chewing gum during the ceremony, while three senior Frontale officials, including team president Shimpei Takeda, will take a 10 percent pay cut for three months.
Other players took off their medals during the ceremony and refused to shake hands with VIPs.
Takeda and Frontale skipper Hiroki Ito paid a visit to J. League chairman Kenji Onitake the same day to apologize.