[Full Report] Former Japan Soccer Player Yutaka Akita Accused of Power Harassment: Team Officials Reveal “You’re ADHD, aren’t you?”

We have lost trust in his character

A legendary defender who repeatedly saved Japan from crises with his fierce play is now facing a desperate situation.

On June 29, J3 soccer club Kochi United SC revealed that allegations of power harassment (abuse of authority) had been made against their manager, Yutaka Akita (54), by players and staff. The club announced the formation of an independent third-party committee and that Akita would take a leave of absence until a conclusion is reached.

“Akita joined Kashima Antlers in 1993, became a regular on the Japanese national team from 1995, and played in two World Cups. As a center-back, he was tasked with marking star players from powerhouse teams like Argentina and Croatia. After retiring, he managed four clubs including FC Machida Zelvia. When he went on leave, players at Kochi United began a petition demanding his dismissal, reportedly signed by about 80% of the team,” said a soccer writer.

The club has not disclosed details of the harassment allegations, but FRIDAY obtained the summary of the power harassment case submitted by Kochi United players to the J.League Players Association. The documented acts of harassment went beyond imagination. Based on interviews related to the document, multiple players and staff spoke out.

“At a staff meeting in April this year, Akita said to me, ‘You have ADHD, don’t you? Go see a doctor!’” revealed Coach A of Kochi United SC. He said many of Akita’s instructions were authoritarian and given in a commanding tone.

“During away trips, we were forced to carry luggage, with repeated orders like ‘Bring the luggage up to the room.’ Some say the players weren’t tough enough to withstand power harassment, but we have lost trust in Akita’s character well before his coaching,” said team staff member B.

B also revealed that Akita flew into a rage when staff tried to protect players.

“In late April, during a practice match, a player suffered a concussion. When I took him to the hospital, the manager yelled at me later, saying, ‘What will you do if he can’t play the next game? Don’t take him to the hospital.’ Akita made that player participate in a match just four days later. The JFA mandates at least six days before returning to play after a concussion. Akita’s actions violate JFA guidelines. If the injury had been worse, the player could have died. Akita is neglecting player safety.”

Current player C claims, “The manager forced me to transfer.”

“From around March, I was repeatedly pressured to move to an amateur club affiliated with Kochi United. When I refused, I was told things like ‘Transfer quickly!’ ‘No contract next year,’ and ‘Think seriously about your life.’ After continuing to refuse, my name was removed from the practice squad whiteboard.”

“I will exclude you from the team.”

Current player D revealed, “There are still power harassment acts by Coach Akita.”

“I injured my leg and couldn’t complete the dash drills in the training menu, so I asked a staff member brought by Coach Akita, ‘Is there any point in dashing while injured?’ Then, at an all-hands meeting in late June, Coach Akita named me and said, ‘We will exclude people like this from the team. They will also be excluded by their teammates.’ He even called my actions rebellion.”

At that same meeting, there was another statement:

“Coach Akita’s training menu was all about putting heavy strain, causing many injuries. In response, the coach said, ‘Even if your legs hurt or you are injured, I am the one who decides whether you can or cannot do it. If you want to rest, tell me.’ Then he condemned me by saying, ‘What you did was criticizing the coach and betraying the team.’ I only asked about the meaning of the training, but I was harshly singled out. Afterward, I was punished by being banned from practice for one week.”

Adding to the suffering of the players was the club’s response, according to current player E:

“At first, the club dismissed our complaints as false. So, we decided to report to the J.League Players Association, only to discover that the club’s head of strengthening showed the complaints we filed to Coach Akita. The only person who was sympathetic was President Shihomi Yamamoto; everyone else was just trying to keep Akita-san happy, putting the players last. Because the head of strengthening showed the materials, it became obvious who reported it, and the players and staff are beyond angry—they are just fed up.”

When asked about these testimonies and whether the club ignored the players’ claims, Kochi United SC replied to FRIDAY’s inquiry, “Our club has decided to withhold information regarding the facts until the investigation is complete.”

Will the desperate pleas of the players bear fruit? The club’s sincere response is urgently needed.

From the August 8-15, 2025, issue of “FRIDAY”