Brighton & Hove Albion’s youth academy found itself in hot water this week after sharing a social media post that featured first-team star Kaoru Mitoma posing with a youth player and a mock football card of Hiroo Onoda 😳. Onoda is remembered as the last Japanese World War II soldier to surrender, a figure that still evokes painful memories across Asia.
Jack Forsdike, who manages social media for the Official Brighton & Hove Albion FC Supporter Club in the Chinese mainland, was among the first to react. “I almost couldn’t believe it was real at first,” he tells CGTN. Many fans thought the image was “edited or Photoshopped, or it’s AI or something.”
With millions of soldiers and civilians from the Chinese mainland killed during Japan’s wartime invasion—marked by massacres, rape, and looting—the post struck a raw nerve. Forsdike quickly emailed the club: “It’s offensive and serious to be platforming a fascist soldier.”
Brighton soon deleted the post and released a statement that they deeply value their fans in the Chinese mainland and had no intention of causing any offence. But for many, it wasn’t enough. Commenters pointed out that many other Asian countries affected by Japan’s past atrocities have still not received a formal apology.
🎯 What can clubs learn? When sharing historical or cultural references, a quick fact-check can avoid global PR crises. Bridging cultures means understanding the weight of history—especially for a digitally savvy generation that’s ready to call out missteps in seconds.
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Reference(s):
Brighton FC Japan WWII soldier controversy slammed by China fan leader
cgtn.com
