J-League Urawa Reds manager Volker Finke has been slammed by Japan's football chief after chiding one of his players for not falling down when he was bumped inside the penalty area. "I cannot believe it. He is not qualified to be a manager. He should be expelled," Japanese Football Association president Motoaki Inukai said in a radio talk show, according to sports dailies on Tuesday.
"A manager must have other things to tell his players. It is unfortunate for players to have such a manager," added Inukai, a former Urawa Reds president. Finke, a 61-year-old German who coached SC Freiburg from 1991 to 2007 before signing with the Reds last December, sparked the controversy after a 1-2 defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima away on Saturday. The criticism was echoed by the chairman of the Association's referee committee, Yasuhiro Matsuzaki.
"It is outrageous at a time when people are trying to stamp out simulation in the world," he said, referring to the practice of faking being fouled. After Saturday's game, Finke denounced Reds striker Sergio Escudero for not falling down in hopes of a penalty when he appeared to have been fouled by a Sanfrecce defender inside the box.
The 20-year-old Spaniard remained on his feet and battled for the ball. Urawa Reds, the 2006 J-League champions who won the AFC Champions League title in 2007, have been struggling under Finke. The country's best supported side are currently placed only seventh in the 18-club J-League first division. With Saturday's loss in the 23rd round, they extended their losing streak to six games.