J.League Chairman Mitsuru Murai has issued a strong statement condemning the racist incident faced by Kashima Antlers’ Caio over the weekend.

The striker was on the receiving end of a racist tweet following their 2-0 win against Urawa Reds.

And, following the J.League’s official response to the matter, Murai has decided to add his voice to the opposition of such unsavoury incidents.

“Since last year, there has been a notable increase in racist comments on social media which are directed toward the J.League’s foreign players,” he stated. “This cowardly conduct is absolutely unforgivable.

“Discrimination is an incredibly big problem in today’s society. The J.League and its clubs have sought to contribute toward a world without discrimination or violence through the promotion of human rights awareness, but continuous efforts are needed to eliminate discrimination not only from the football community, but from Japan and the rest of the world.

“These actions hurt not only the players to whom they are directed, but also their teammates, fans, supporters, and club staff.

“Each and every one of us needs to go about our daily life with a strong awareness of the need to end discrimination. The J.League and its clubs will continue to raise our voices toward a world without discrimination or violence.”