Japan coach Philippe Troussier apologized for criticizing the Japan Football Association in midweek when he met senior JFA official Kunishige Kamamoto for clear-the-air talks Friday.
The Frenchman attacked the JFA for "dithering" over scheduling practice games for Japan's Olympic side on the eve of Wednesday's 4-0 win over the New Zealand Under-23 side at Tokyo's National Stadium.
However, Troussier sat down with Kamamoto, the head of the JFA development committee, and reportedly admitted to having overstepped the mark in blaming the "Japanese mentality" for scuppering his plans to take a team to an Under-21 tournament in France in May.
"We had an extremely good discussion," Troussier said after his meeting with Kamamoto at JFA headquarters in Tokyo.
"(Troussier said) he regrets speaking his mind like he would in France and that things had gotten out of hand, since he was only thinking of the team's best interests," Kamamoto told reporters.
Kamamoto added that the JFA will work more closely with Troussier on scheduling matches for the Olympic and senior national teams, admitting that the JFA had been slow to inform the coach of its plans in the past.
"We want to consider any constructive opinions he offers, even though we may disagree at times. It's necessary to get a long-term schedule in place," said Kamamoto.
However, he kept tightlipped when asked if the JFA will renew Troussier's contract beyond the end of June, saying only, "That's another matter."