Football: Japan's Okubo banned for trashing advertising board

TOKYO - Japan's World Cup striker Yoshito Okubo has been banned for two games by the J-League after smashing an advertising board in a fit of pique during a match last weekend, officials said Thursday.

The suspension completes a double-whammy for the Kawasaki Frontale player after being dropped by Japan coach Javier Aguirre for the Mexican's first game in charge against Uruguay on Friday and Tuesday's friendly with Venezuela.

Okubo, who has a reputation for having a short fuse, kicked the hoarding in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Nagoya Grampus, prompting the J-League's disciplinary committee to charge him with destruction of property.

The 32-year-old will miss games against Tokushima Vortis and FC Tokyo following the international break.

His suspension comes less than a week after J-League rivals Yokohama F-Marinos were hit with a US$48,000 (S$60,000) fine after a supporter racially abused a black player by waving a banana during a game against Frontale.