Overview
- Multiple players’ drinking and smoking were confirmed on November 17 through interviews with the Sendai school.
- The school said the cases were not a team-wide problem and apologized, describing its response as individual guidance.
- Some students involved were placed on leave, left the team, or transferred, though the school did not disclose numbers or details.
- The school learned of the misconduct before the Miyagi tournament, reported it to the Japan Football Association and the national high school federation, and limited competition to uninvolved players.
- Seiwa Gakuen went on to finish runner-up in the prefectural championship, while champions Sendai Ikuei later announced it would forgo nationals over findings of structural bullying in its program.