A sumo grand champion may face a police probe into the alleged assault of a junior wrestler, authorities said Wednesday, as more details emerged of a scandal that has rocked Japan’s national sport. Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Harumafuji is alleged to have smashed a beer bottle over a fellow
A sumo grand champion may face a police probe into the alleged assault of a junior wrestler, authorities said Wednesday, as more details emerged of a scandal that has rocked Japan’s national sport.
Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Harumafuji is alleged to have smashed a beer bottle over a fellow wrestler’s head and hit him repeatedly after the younger man pulled out his smartphone while he was speaking to him.
Headlines screaming “arrest” and “retirement” were splashed over the front pages in the sumo-obsessed country, as the 33-year-old is likely to have to step down from his lofty position if charged.
A spokesman for the sumo association told AFP that a police report had been filed on behalf of the 27-year-old assaulted wrestler — Takanoiwa, also from Mongolia — by the fighter’s team.
The sumo association has set up a committee to investigate the issue but declined to comment further “until we find out the truth about the incident”, he said.
Police could not confirm they have received the report, but said: “It would be true if the victim’s side said so.
