OSAKA - Kokoku High School in Osaka has confirmed that several members of its soccer team, which recently won the Osaka tournament of the National High School Soccer Championship, were found to have consumed alcohol.
According to the school, on the night of November 2nd, several players drank alcohol at a restaurant in Osaka Prefecture. One of them collapsed on the street with symptoms of impaired consciousness and was taken to the hospital by ambulance, though their life was not in danger.
The school conducted interviews and decided to suspend the players involved from all club activities indefinitely while instructing them to remain at home.
Kokoku High School had secured its first appearance in the national tournament in six years after winning the Osaka final in a penalty shootout on November 1st.
In a statement, the school said, "We deeply regret the actions that deviated from social norms and sincerely apologize," adding that it will investigate whether similar incidents occurred among other members and report the findings to the Japan Football Association and the All Japan High School Athletic Federation.
Source: YOMIURI
