Covid-19/Japan: no relegations at the end of the season, no matches until at least 03/04/2020

The J-League, the Japan Football League, has changed the format of its first three divisions (Meiji Yasuda J1 League, Meiji Yasuda J2 League, and Meiji Yasuda J3 League) and is applying exceptional promotion/relegation rules (due to the Covid-19 pandemic), according to the body following an extraordinary executive committee meeting on 19/03/2020.

There will be no relegations at the end of the 2020 season and only two promotions between the J3 and J2 (22 clubs in 2020) and between the J2 and J1 (18 clubs with two relegations and a play-off involving the 16^th normally), explained the Japanese League which had suspended its competitions "until at least 03/04/2020" on 10/03/2020.

The J-League had initially postponed seven cup matches scheduled on 25/02/2020, "to prevent the spread of the new Coronavirus," announced the J-League the same day. The J-League also postponed the first three matchdays of the championship, meaning all matches scheduled until 15/03/2020.

• The beginning of the K-League, the South Korean football championship, has been postponed "until the spread of the Covid-19…