sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Japan fans stay behind to clean up stadium after Qatar vs Ecuador World Cup game

Home> Football

Published 13:55 21 Nov 2022 GMT

Japan fans stay behind to clean up stadium after Qatar vs Ecuador World Cup game

Japan fans stayed behind after the final whistle on Sunday to clean the Al Bayt Stadium.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

In the aftermath of Sunday's World Cup opener between Qatar and Ecuador in Al Khor, a number of Japan supporters stayed behind to help clean up the Al Bayt Stadium.

Japan fans have history when it comes to tidying rubbish at stadiums around world football.

Back in 2018, after a heartbreaking defeat in the final seconds of their World Cup last 16 clash against Belgium, they earned the respect of millions when they cleared up the Rostov Arena.

And a year later, they showed their class again after a section of supporters picked up rubbish at Roazhon Park following their side's 2-1 defeat of Scotland in Group D of the Women's World Cup.

Advert

Japan fans tidy stadium during Women's World Cup. Image credit: BBC
Japan fans tidy stadium during Women's World Cup. Image credit: BBC

It's an incredible tradition that continued on Sunday night, when a handful of Japan fans stayed behind to help locals tidy the Al Bayt Stadium.

So why do they do it? "It's not just part of the football culture but part of Japanese culture," Japan-based football journalist Scott McIntyre told the BBC in 2018.

"You often hear people say that football is a reflection of culture. An important aspect of Japanese society is making sure that everything is absolutely clean and that's the case in all sporting events and certainly also in football."

Twitter user @maljefairi, who posted the below clip, wrote: "You don't have to be a muslim to clean your trash behind you. Look at this amazing behavior from Japanese fans. They are cleaning the studium behind them even when it’s not there match. Wow. Salute Japan."

Omar Farooq watched the supporters working away when everyone else had left.

He said: “Someone convince me that this is normal. The Japanese fans decided to clean the stadium. It’s not even their match! When I asked them, ‘Why are you cleaning something not related to you?’ The answer was, ‘Japanese never leave rubbish behind us. We respect the place.'”

Farooq added: “This is a thing I heard about, but I never thought it was this real. Wow. All respect.”

Image credit: TikTok/omr94
Image credit: TikTok/omr94

In terms of the full-time result on Sunday afternoon, a brace from former West Ham forward Enner Valencia handed Ecuador a deserved 2-0 win in their opener against hosts Qatar.

Featured Image Credit: TikTok/omr94

Topics: Football World Cup, Japan, Qatar, Ecuador

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is the Senior Journalist for SPORTbible, one of the world’s biggest social publishers. He specialises in long-form feature writing and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day. He has a BA (Hons) in Journalism and News Practice.

X

@jackkenmare_

Recommended reads

Dennis Taylor interview: Why snooker legend is playing in brand-new event... and how he saved someone's lifeGettyRanking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGetty

Advert

  • FIFA urged to ban ICE from World Cup stadium as statement issued
  • Saudi Arabia and Qatar Selected As Host Nations in New World Cup Controversy
  • Japan fans clean up stadium after World Cup shock vs Germany
  • World Cup nation to hand players life-changing gifts for qualifying for tournament

Choose your content:

an hour ago
13 hours ago
14 hours ago
  • TikTok/cal_cutter_chats - Getty Images
    an hour ago

    'I have won 11 titles here' - fan footage shows Gabriel Jesus hitting back at Man City fan during Arsenal game

    Jesus was warming up on the Etihad touchline when a fan made the comment.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Declan Rice's instant three-word response to Man City loss decoded by lipreaders

    The cameras picked up every word Rice said.

    Football
  • Getty
    13 hours ago

    Sky Sports show Arne Slot singling out one Liverpool star in dressing room footage

    Liverpool defeated Merseyside rivals Everton 2–1 in the first derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

    Football
  • Getty
    14 hours ago

    Man City fans unveil savage banner mocking Arsenal after title race blow

    Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal in Manchester City's 2-1 win over Arsenal.

    Football