Old clip of Japanese footballer crying misrepresented as 'apology to Indonesia'

"The Japanese player cried and wanted to apologise for the delay in singing our patriotic song," reads Indonesian text overlay on a SnackVideo post shared on November 17.

"Forgive us Indonesia!! We did not mean to disturb you singing Tanah Airku".

The Indonesian football team failed to immediately join the crowd singing patriotic song "Tanah Airku" (My Homeland) after a 4-0 thrashing from Japan in a World Cup qualifier on November 15.

The delay was reportedly caused by Japanese players jogging on the pitch (archived link)

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Screenshot of false post, captured on November 19, 2024

The video racked more than four million views in similar posts on SnackVideo and TikTok.

Some social media users appeared to believe the video showed Mitoma apologising to Indonesia for the interruption to "Tanah Airku".

"I forgive you because you don't understand our customs," one commented.

"Good. Respect for each other," another wrote.

Croatia defeat

A reverse image search found a screenshot from the video of Mitoma crying in an article from December 8, 2022 by The Argus, a news outlet based in the British city of Brighton (archived link).   

As well as playing for Japan, Mitoma is a midfielder for Brighton and Hove Albion FC.

"Tearful Kaoru Mitoma thanked by interviewer for World Cup efforts," the headline read.

"Mitoma impressed throughout the tournament and was closest to grabbing a winner against Croatia in the last 16. But his penalty in the shoot out was saved," the report said.

"It was all too much for Mitoma as he broke down in an interview."

The Blue Samurai were eliminated from the 2022 World Cup on penalties by Croatia in the last 16, denying them a first-ever place in the quarter-finals.

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Screenshot comparison of Mitoma's tearful interview in misinformation post (left) and TheArgus news website (right).

According to an AFP journalist in Tokyo who reviewed footage of Mitoma's interview, the player broke down as he rued the team was "not enough in every aspect" of the game (archived link).

But the interviewer thanked him and told him his performance "made an impact around the world."

Japanese sports paper Sponichi Annex wrote about the interview in a report on December 6, 2022 (archived link).   

AFP found no reports that Mitoma or any Japanese player apologising to Indonesia over the interruption to post-match singing at the World Cup qualifier on November 15.