Japan players threaten boycott over pay dispute

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japan's national team have threatened to boycott international friendly matches if their demand for a pay hike is not met, local media reported on Monday.

The Japan Pro-Footballers Association (JPFA) said the unhappy players would back doen only if they are offered a significant pay rise.

"We have no plans of backing down," JPFA executive officer Tetsuro Kiyooka was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency.

JPFA lawyers will meet their counterparts in the Japan Football Association on Tuesday to find a way out of the crisis.

"We cannot comment as we are leaving the situation in the hands of our lawyers," the JFA said.