JAPANESE football has become the latest sport to be hit by the coronavirus with league matches to be postponed until mid-March.
Fears over the disease spreading have had a major impact on Chinese and Korean football as well as Italy’s Serie A.
Andreas Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe began their season with a draw on SundayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
This week’s seven Levain Cup games are all cancelled, as confirmed by a league statement on Tuesday, with the next three rounds of league action also expected to be postponed.
League bosses stated: “J-League will provide its maximum cooperation for the prevention of the spread and anti-infection measures.”
The division only began last weekend with Andres Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe held to a draw by newly-promoted Yokohama FC.
A delay until March 15 is being mooted for the top three divisions of Japanese football with a total of 850 cases reported across the country.
However most of those are linked to the Diamond Princess cruise ship moored near Tokyo.
Worrying glances are also being cast towards this summer’s Olympics tournament due to take place in the city.
Measures are likely to be in place to prevent the disease affecting the Games.
IOC member Dick Pound insisted on Tuesday that time is still on their side as they try to make sure the Olympics goes ahead.
He told Associated Press: “As far as we all know you’re going to be in Tokyo.
“All indications are at this stage that it will be business as usual. So keep focused on your sport and be sure that the IOC is not going to send you into a pandemic situation.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
