This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
On July 4, 2020, Japan's J-league resumed its season after a four-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic, with professional football matches taking place behind closed doors.
The restart comes as the country gradually rolls back its anti-virus measures, following the resumption of professional baseball on June 19, 2020.
For the nine games played on Saturday, no spectators were allowed into stadiums, and players and coaches were required to test negative before participating.
Michael Olunga's Kashiwa Reysol lost 1-0 at home to Tokyo, with Tsuyoshi Watanabe scoring the lone goal in the 62nd minute, two minutes after Reysol were reduced to 10 men following Richardson's red card.
Andres Iniesta, playing for Vissel Kobe, expressed his hope to bring joy to fans at a time when the sports world has been battered by the pandemic, as reported by the Sankei Shimbun daily.
The league had initially started on February 1, 2020, before being suspended due to the pandemic.
From July 10, 2020, spectators will be allowed to watch live, with stadiums admitting 5,000 fans or 50 percent of their capacity, whichever number is smaller.
Attendees will be required to wear masks, wash their hands frequently, and avoid shouting to minimize the risk of transmission.
