Japanese Football Official Faces Global Outrage and Career Ruin Following French Court’s Ruling on Child Sexual Abuse Material
Written byTimes Magazine
A senior Japan Football Association (JFA) official, Masanaga Kageyama, has been sentenced in France to an 18 month suspended jail term and a $5,830 (€5,000) fine after being convicted of viewing child sexual abuse images while aboard an airplane. The 58-year-old JFA technical director was arrested at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport during a layover, after the flight crew raised the alarm. Kageyama was on his way to Chile to attend the FIFA Under 20 World Cup when the incident occurred in the business class cabin of an Air France flight.
The French court in Bobigny, north of Paris, sentenced Kageyama on Monday for importing, possessing, recording, or saving pornographic images of a minor under the age of 15. The discovery was made by attentive flight attendants who noticed the convicted man viewing the illicit images on his laptop. The severity of the offense was compounded by Kageyama's prominent position within the world of Japanese football, where he was responsible for strengthening national teams, educating coaches, and nurturing youth players, including managing the Japan Under-20 team previously.
During his court appearance, Kageyama initially attempted to claim the photos were merely "AI-generated artworks." However, he ultimately admitted to viewing the images, stating he was unaware that possession was illegal in France and expressing his shame over the incident. Despite his initial denial, the admission and the court's finding of guilt led to a swift and decisive response from his employer. The Japan Football Association issued a statement announcing the immediate termination of his contract.
The JFA publicly expressed deep regret, offering sincere apologies for the concern and disruption caused by the actions of a high-ranking official. At a press conference in Tokyo, JFA general secretary Kazuyuki Yukawa emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "Something like this cannot happen. We must all work together to ensure there is thorough compliance and guidance." Yukawa confirmed that Kageyama had not yet returned to Japan and was believed to still be in France following his release after the court hearing. The French court’s sentence carries significant and lasting consequences beyond the suspended jail term and fine. Kageyama’s sentence includes a 10 year ban on working with minors, a 10 year ban on returning to French territory, and mandatory addition to the French national sex offenders’ register. The incident has cast a shadow over Japanese football and highlights the global legal and ethical obligations concerning the protection of children, regardless of an individual's professional standing. Kageyama, a former J-League professional and coach, had a career dedicated to the sport, making his fall from grace all the more shocking to the sporting community.
