Japanese player banned for spitting at referee

TOKYO, June 25 (Reuters) Ventforet Kofu's Takehito Shigehara was suspended for seven games by Japan's J-League today after spitting at a referee in a furious outburst.

Shigehara was booked for dissent during a J-League game against FC Tokyo last week and reacted by spitting at the match official, earning him a red card.

The J-League's disciplinary committee banned him for four games for that indiscretion and added two more after hearing that the player had abused the referee before leaving the pitch.

To compound his trouble, Shigehara was suspended for a further game for smashing stadium equipment in a rage on his way back to the showers.

''What he did was not good at all,'' Kofu president Kazuyuki Umino told reporters. ''We will call the player in tomorrow and give him a severe warning.'' REUTERS SAM RN2123