Email
Print
Digg ThisTOKYO, May 13 (Reuters) - Japan's Kashima Antlers have made peace with controversial referee Masaaki Iemoto after his bizarre performance in this season's J-League curtain raiser.
Iemoto was ordered to submit to a "cooling off" period by J-League officials after his card-happy display in the Super Cup in March triggered a pitch invasion.
But Kashima, beaten 4-3 by Sanfrecce Hiroshima on penalties after Iemoto twice allowed Hiroshima to retake missed spot kicks, have agreed to bury the hatchet.
Japanese media reported on Tuesday that Kashima manager Oswaldo Oliveira allowed Iemoto to officiate a practice game against a local university side.
Iemoto, who produced three red and 11 yellow cards during the Super Cup defeat, managed to keep his cards firmly in his pocket on Monday.
The 34-year-old escaped the axe after his Super Cup performance but was suspended from the J-League's list of referees for the second time in two years.
Ugly scenes at the end of the traditional season opener caused embarrassment to the J-League as Kashima players argued with Iemoto and security staff attempted to quell a pitch invasion from Antlers fans.
In the melee, Iemoto continued to brandish cards, booking Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata and Masaki Chugo and flashing a third red card at Go Oiwa. (Reporting by Alastair Himmer; Editing by John O'Brien)
