Japan’s professional baseball payers of Hanshin Tigers celebrate their win over Fukuoka Softbank Hawks following their pre-season games behind closed doors in Fukuoka on February 29, 2020. (Photo by STR / JIJI PRESS / AFP) / Japan OUT
It’s still not clear when baseball or football will resume in Japan but it will likely be without fans when it does.
That was the decision when the heads of Japanese professional baseball and football met in online meetings.
Japanese baseball commissioner Atsushi Saito says “my feelings that I want to start the season without spectators haven’t changed.”
Baseball and football officials both agreed nothing could begin until a state of emergency was lifted in Japan. The earliest that can happen is May 6. They are expected to wait until that date before moving forward.
The J-League’s top two football divisions were suspended in February. Japanese baseball played some preseason games without fans before all play was stopped.