August 16 – A Burmese international goalkeeper who refused to return home after protesting the February military coup in his country has been granted refugee status in Japan.
The government reportedly approved Pyae Lyan Aung’s refugee claim as he could be persecuted if he returns home.
Refugee status will now allow Aung (pictured), who joined a J. League third division team in Yokohama as an intern at the end of July, to stay in Japan as a long-term resident.
The substitute goalkeeper gave a three-fingered salute – used as a show of resistance – in protest against the military junta during a match between Japan and Myanmar in late May. He entered Japan earlier that same month as a member of the national team on a short-term visa.
When the team was set to leave Japan on June 16 after playing two more World Cup qualifiers, he told immigration authorities he wanted to stay expressing fears for his life.
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