Prosecutors decided Friday not to indict Japanese footballer Junya Ito, citing a lack of evidence over a criminal complaint that alleged he engaged in nonconsensual sexual acts with two women.

Junya Ito. (Getty/Kyodo)

The Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office also decided not to indict the women in response to a complaint filed against them by Ito, 31, alleging they had made a false accusation containing information that differed from objective facts.

The two women filed the complaint with police in January, accusing Ito, who plays for French club Stade de Reims, of sexually assaulting them in an Osaka hotel after dining and drinking together in the western Japan city in June last year.

Ito responded with the complaint alleging the accusations against him were false. The Osaka Prefectural Police referred both cases to prosecutors last month. Ito has sought damages of around 200 million yen ($1.36 million) from the women.

Earlier this year, Ito, who had played for Japan at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, withdrew from the national team during the Asian Cup as the allegations were made public.


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