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Digg ThisTOKYO, May 20 (Reuters) - Two Japanese players have been confined to their homes by J-League club Kashima Antlers after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
The incident comes two months after the chairman of a Japanese second division side was involved in an accident while driving over the legal limit and is likely to cause further embarrassment to the J-League.
Kashima officials said on Tuesday that reserve players Hiroyuki Omichi and Yuji Funayama were being punished after failing a breath test in the early hours of Sunday.
"The players have broken the law and that's something you can't forgive," Kashima said in a statement. "We will strive to ensure this kind of thing does not happen again."
The J-League's image was further tarnished at the weekend by violent clashes between rival fans following Gamba Osaka's stormy 3-2 win at Urawa Reds in Saitama.
"I would like to offer my deepest apologies for the recent spate of J-League scandals," J-League chairman Kenji Onitake told a news conference.
"You can't help thinking people have got complacent thinking things have been going well for the league as a whole."
