Japanese soccer fans are receiving praise for their character after a group of them stayed back following their match against Columbia to clean up the stadium.
After their country’s 2-1 victory, the avid sports fans started sweeping the aisles for garbage to toss into giant trash bags they had brought themselves to the 44,000-seat Mordovia Arena in Russia.
The incredibly considerate fans have a habit of representing their country well at major tournaments. After losing 2-1 to Ivory Coast in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, they engaged in a massive clean-up effort.
Many people took to social media to commend the fans on their behavior. While unruly hooligan violence at many international tournaments often seems to overtake the headlines, it’s nice to see some much friendlier behavior on display!
This is my favourite moment of the World Cup so far; Japan fans picking up litter after their victory vs Columbia. The lessons in life we can take from the game. Why I support ?? #class✅#respect✅#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/FyYLhAGDbi
— Christopher McKaig (@Coachmckaig) June 19, 2018
“Japan made history as 1st Asian team to defeat a S. American team in World Cup. But what happened after is just as impressive. A friend sent me this video of Japanese fans cleaning the stadium after the game. They actually brought the blue trash bags with them. Class act,” one person tweeted in response to the respectful gesture.
Japanese fans clean up stadium after Columbia loses 1-2 to Japan in World Cup 2018 https://t.co/4MsPCdCsaD pic.twitter.com/vx9eAXQ2AC
— Mothership.sg (@MothershipSG) June 19, 2018
Instead of rampaging crowds and drunken brawls on the streets of Moscow, these Japanese patrons appear to have sparked a servant-hearted trend that is likely to restore some faith in the behavior of World Cup fans:
This is my favorite thing today – Senegal fans stayed to clean their section after celebrating their #WorldCup win against Poland pic.twitter.com/GSZSpmcH0h
— Brody Logan (@BrodyLogan) June 20, 2018
Two years ago, at the Euro 2016 championships, English and Russian fans locked horns in a series of savage street fights. Violent Russian hooligans, or “ultras,” caused havoc on the streets of Marseille, hospitalizing several fans and causing utter chaos outside the many bars and restaurants.
Wow!! fans from Senegal and Japan cleaned up the stadium after the matches at the #WorldCup! what an amazing attitude & good example for all of us! #WorldCupRussia2018 pic.twitter.com/RfgsIxg5Mv
— Martin Kobler (@KoblerinPAK) June 20, 2018
“You go into town now and there are English supporters with blood pouring from their head from the Russian attacks,” Londoner Michael Tashall told the Guardian at the time. “They are outrageous. The World Cup in Russia should be taken away from them. It is an outrage.”
Thankfully, there has been little violence reported in Russia so far at this year’s World Cup. Lets hope more fans adopt Japanese fans’ constructive behavior.