Kashima Antlers Penalizes 12 Supporters Following Misconduct Against Kashiwa Reysol

On Friday, October 30, J1 League club Kashima Antlers announced through its official X account that it has disciplined 12 supporters following a series of rule violations during their home match against Kashiwa Reysol at the Mercari Stadium on Saturday, October 24.

The confirmed infractions included three main incidents: a group of Kashima supporters approached the visiting team area prior to kickoff, with one individual entering the buffer zone; 11 supporters lingered outside the visiting gate after the match concluded, prompting security staff to temporarily close it; and adjacent gates were subsequently opened about 10 minutes later to resume the departure of visiting fans.

The club issued varying degrees of punishment based on the severity of the actions. The individual who committed the most serious offense of interfering with venue operations received an indefinite ban from all Kashima home and away matches. Another supporter who entered a restricted area was suspended from two home matches, including any concurrent away games. Additionally, 10 fans who unnecessarily approached the visitor area were barred from attending the upcoming match against Cerezo Osaka.

Following the announcement, Kashima Antlers President and Representative Director Fumiaki Koizumi issued an apology on his personal X account for the inconvenience caused. He emphasized the club's commitment to reviewing current operational structures to ensure a safe and secure stadium environment moving forward.

In the days following the Kashiwa fixture, numerous Kashiwa supporters took to social media to report feeling intimidated or temporarily confined by Kashima fans, drawing intense scrutiny regarding how the club would handle the matter. While the disciplinary actions were initially expected to help resolve the situation, they have instead triggered widespread criticism online, with many users arguing that the penalties are far too lenient.

Incidents involving inappropriate supporter behavior have surfaced in other matches as well, such as the Yokohama derby in 2025, where dozens of individuals faced prolonged stadium bans for dangerous conduct outside the venue. Observers and league advocates emphasize that stadiums are part of broader society and that the high safety standards of Japanese soccer must be maintained through strict, impartial enforcement by clubs rather than emotional reactions.