The JFA held its 12th annual Respect & Fair Play Days this September. It began in 2014 and has been held every September.

During this period, the “Respect & Fair Play Pledge” was delivered by the captains of both teams at major matches, and the Respect flag was displayed in stadiums. Among the various activities organised, the Respect Symposium took place on 13 September, both in person at “blue-ing!”, the football culture hub in Bunkyo, Tokyo, and online, attracting a large number of participants.

At the J.League match I covered, the captains also made their pledges. It was the second leg of the J.League YBC Levain Cup quarter-final between Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Reds at Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu. Urawa’s captain, Marius HOIBRATEN from Norway, delivered a powerful speech in clear English that left a strong impression, stating that “violence and discrimination will not be tolerated.”

Having drawn 1–1 in the first leg at Saitama Stadium, both teams gave everything in pursuit of a spot in the semi-finals, having a fierce battle. After 90 minutes the score remained level at 2–2, and it was only in extra time that Kawasaki finally settled the tie with a penalty kick.

The intensity of the match was evident from the number of substitutions: Kawasaki used six, while Urawa used seven, including one due to concussion. Even so, the match was punctuated by admirable moments of sportsmanship, including players helping opponents stretch cramped legs and offering other gestures of care. One heart-warming scene saw Urawa’s ISHIHARA Hirokazu run to the Kawasaki bench to fetch a water bottle for a Kawasaki player who had gone down, helping him drink while he was still lying on the pitch. This series of actions told a lot about Ishihara’s character.

However, I felt uncertain whether the Respect & Fair Play Pledges delivered by Hoibraten and Kawasaki’s captain, WAKIZAKA Yasuto, were truly conveyed to fans, supporters, and those watching on television. Would it not be better if their pledges were closed-captioned on the stadium’s big screen for all to read? Or printed and handed out to spectators? Or included in match reports on the J.League’s official website and on the clubs’ own sites?

Many captains must have delivered similar pledges across various matches, yet their words are rarely recorded. These pledges carry an important message. Preserving them in various forms and ensuring they reach as many people as possible would be highly meaningful. Why not publish them throughout the season on each club’s official website in a clear and accessible format?

Respect and fair play are essential if football—the sport that became the world’s most popular in the 20th century—is to continue inspiring interest and empathy in the 21st. These values must be understood and embraced not only by a select few but by everyone, including professional players, managers, club staff, amateur players and coaches, and indeed all fans and supporters.

For that reason, the message must be shared not only during Respect & Fair Play Days or in the limited number of matches where captains make their pledges, but consistently and throughout the entire year—thoroughly and routinely.

The J.League already shows Respect & Fair Play videos before every match, which is an invaluable effort. But we should not stop there. With just a little creativity, we could spread the message of Respect & Fair Play “more thoroughly, more routinely” at little to no additional cost.

Beyond the J.League, everyone involved in football should reflect deeply on what “respect” and “fair play” truly mean, and find ways to express, communicate, and promote these principles. Doing so will enrich the sport we love and, ultimately, enrich our own lives as supporters of the game.

Written by OSUMI Yoshiyuki (Football Journalist)

*This article was originally posted on the Japan Football Association Newsletter, “JFAnews,” October 2025 edition.

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