TOKYO: The Japan Professional Football League, or J.League, decided Friday to resume matches in its J1 top division on July 4 after a suspension since late February due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

On June 27, the league's J2 second division will resume matches and the J3 third division will open the season.

All matches will be held with no fans present for the time being.

"We'll place a high priority on ensuring the safety and health of players," J.League Chairman Mitsuru Murai said at an online press conference.

In the rest of this season, 33 matches are scheduled to take place in the J1 and 41 matches in the J2.

Football is the second major professional sport in Japan to announce a return to action after a break forced by the pandemic, following the baseball league's announcement it would return to play in June.

J-League first-division Cerezo Osaka player Yoichiro Kakitani said "worries have not been completely cleared... but it will be best that all teams in the J-League work together and face off with mutual respect."

The J-League kicked off the season for one weekend in February before suspending it.

JIJI Press (with inputs from AFP)