This could be the end of the traditional rivalry "Showdown of Red and Blue." Not only that, the rich tradition of Nihon University football team, a 21-time national champion, has been severely damaged.
The Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters are not satisfied with the reply from the Nihon University Phoenix regarding the multiple penalties made by a Phoenix defender in their exhibition game on May 6 in Tokyo. A Kwansei Gakuin quarterback was injured on a late hit by the defender, which drew a 15-yard personal foul penalty. The defender then committed two more personal fouls over the next few plays before he was ejected from the game.
"We do not regard this reply from Nihon University as a sincere apology or explanation, which we required," Fighters director Hiromu Ono said on Thursday during a news conference at the Kwansei Gakuin training facility in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Pref. "We will extend the deadline of the apology and further explanation on what happened in the game and how it occurred to May 24. Then we will decide how to deal with this."