April 26 – Japan’s J-league will revert to playing matches behind closed doors following a state of emergency being announced in the country that is due to host the Olympic Games this summer.
The next 11 matches in the top two divisions in Japan will be played in front of empty stands as the country bids to curb a new spike in coronavirus cases. The state of emergency have been declared in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo.
It is the first time that J-League matches will be staged behind closed doors since July 2020. The current fan lockout is expected to last until May 11.
“The J-League takes pride in having the know-how to provide a safe and secure match-day experience,” J-League chairman Mitsuru Murai was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.
The latest covid restrictions again raise concerns over how Japan will stage the 2020 Olympic Games, the largest sporting event in the world, in Tokyo this summer, with the pandemic still rageing around the world. The Olympic football tournament will kick off on July 21.
With three months to go, the idea of staging the Games has been deeply unpopular with the local population. On Monday, Tokyo 2020 organising committee president Seiko Hashimoto said that the committee will decide on rules for limiting spectators in April.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713269506labto1713269506ofdlr1713269506owedi1713269506sni@o1713269506fni1713269506
