TOKYO (AP) — Japan has pulled out of the Copa America soccer tournament in South America because of problems forming a team following March’s earthquake and tsunami.
The president of Japan’s soccer federation said at a news conference Tuesday that European clubs wouldn’t release Japan’s top players for the South American championship in July.
Japan was a guest team for the event in Argentina and therefore did not have the right to compel clubs to release players for national duty.
Japan initially pulled out of the tournament after the catastrophe in March, only to change its mind two weeks later. Costa Rica looks set to replace Japan in the tournament from July 1-24.
Japan played in the Copa in 1999.
