JFA mulls Oita, Chiba punishment

The Japan Football Association said Monday it is considering taking disciplinary action against Oita Trinita and JEF United Chiba for fielding weakened teams in last week's Emperor's Cup fourth-round matches.

In last Wednesday's 2-0 home defeat to Sagan Tosu, Oita made 10 changes to the starting team that clinched the Nabisco Cup, while Chiba boss Alex Miller rested seven players in the relegation-haunted club's 1-0 loss at Shimizu S-Pulse.

Under J. League regulations, teams must field their strongest lineups although that rule does not apply to the Emperor's Cup.

But JFA chief Motoaki Inukai said, "This is not really a question of rules."

The clubs could be banned from playing in next season's tournament or have their seeds to join the competition from the fourth-round revoked.

"We want to make sure this kind of thing does not happen again," said J. League chairman Kenji Onitake, who concurrently serves as JFA vice president.