Ex-England striker Jay Bothroyd turned away from ‘racist’ golf club in Japan

JAY BOTHROYD – the former England and Cardiff striker – was turned away from a golf club in Japan where he is now playing for being a foreigner.

The Arsenal academy graduate, 36, who won his single Three Lions cap in 2010, joined J1 League club Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo last July, his second Japanese club.

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But he was still stunned to be refused entry to his local golf course - the Hokkaido Classic - which was designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus.

The exclusive par-72 course charges £338 for a weekend round between June and July.

And on the club’s fees page it states that non-Japanese players must be accompanied by a member.

But Bothroyd - a well-travelled frontman who has played in Italy and Thailand – asked if it would be deemed racism in the UK or America.

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He tweeted: “Today, I wanted to play golf, and when I went to Hokkaido Classic Golf Club, I was told that foreigners refused.

“If this were British or American, wouldn't it be seen as racism? Do you have any recommendations for a good golf course?"

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A March survey by the Justice Ministry revealed a worrying number of non-residents are regularly refused entry to venues, even some who are able to speak the language.

And a hotel in Bothroyd’s adopted City of Hokkaido was once again highlighted.

A British man in his 30s said he was sometimes declined entry to some places, saying: “I was once declined by a hotel in Hokkaido. Foreigners couldn’t stay there.”

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In May 2016 Japan’s first law aimed at curbing racial discrimination was passed to tackle the growing problem.

The Act on the Promotion of Efforts to Eliminate Unfair Discriminatory Speech and Behaviour against Persons Originating from Outside Japan is better known as the Hate Speech Law.

Japan is expecting to host as many as 40 million tourists in 2020, when Tokyo host the Olympics and Paralympics and organisers will want the problem eradicated in time for the showpiece.