Tokyo: Japan thrashed Myanmar 10-0 yesterday to cruise into the third round of Asian World Cup qualifying, after anti-junta protesters had chanted against the military coup outside the stadium.
Five goals from Yuya Osako helped Japan clinch top spot in Group F with two games to spare, against a makeshift Myanmar side missing several regulars who boycotted the qualifiers in protest against the coup in their country.
Around 70 protesters gathered before kick-off outside the stadium in Chiba, near Tokyo, carrying pictures of detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and waving flags from the country’s 1988 uprising.
“This team doesn’t represent the Myanmar people,” a protester who gave her name only as A told AFP.
“This isn’t a protest against the players. We just want them to stop cooperating with the military junta.”
Several players boycotted Myanmar’s trip, with…
