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The J.League’s disciplinary committee on Wednesday announced the rescinding of a yellow card received by Urawa Reds captain Yuki Abe during their 3-1 win at FC Tokyo last Saturday. Abe was booked for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 47th minute instead of Daisuke Nasu as a result of mistaken identity on the part of referee Hiroyoshi Takayama. It w…

Consadole Sapporo midfielder Irfan Bachdim has been invited to participate in an Indonesia national team training camp, the club has announced. The camp will take place from September 21 through 27 in Indonesia, who have made their return from international hiatus after a FIFA ban. Irfan has one appearance this season for Consadole, who currently lead…

The J.League on Tuesday announced the results of J3 Club License applications for the 2017 season, with three clubs already having theirs approved. J.League Hundred Year Vision Clubs with a J3 Club License may join the J3 if they fulfil a number of criteria. These included having average attendance of over 2,000 per match, yearly revenues of over $1.5…

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo midfielder Macedo is expected to miss several matches after straining a muscle in his right calf, the club announced on Sunday. The 29-year-old suffered the injury during his team’s 3-1 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League win against Thespa Kusatsu Gunma on September 11. Macedo has managed 22 appearances for the northern club in hi…

The race for automatic promotion to next season’s J1 League tightened considerably on Sunday as the current 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League leaders both dropped points on the road. Leaders Consadole Sapporo managed a scoreless draw at V-Varen Nagasaki, while second place Matsumoto Yamaga fought back to draw 1-1 at Thespa Kusatsu Gunma thanks to Paulinh…

Decisive results in the race for the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League Second Stage title occurred on Saturday as Urawa Reds displaced Kawasaki Frontale at the head of the standings. Mihailo Petrovic’s men kicked off an hour after Frontale at FC Tokyo and were ruthless in a 3-1 win at Ajinomoto Stadium. Aware that Frontale were losing 3-2 at Omiya Ardija, …

FC Tokyo on Friday announced the registration of two Under-18 midfielders to the senior squad as ‘Type 2’ players. Former Barcelona trainee Takefusa Kubo, 15, and Tokyo academy product Rei Hirakawa, 16, will be allowed to play for the team in J.League matches while retaining their youth team status. Both players are currently representing …

The J.League has announced plans for #InstaLevainCup, a special social media event to be held in conjunction with the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup Final on October 15 at Saitama Stadium. The league will be recruiting four users to take over the J.League Instagram account for two days to share their unique viewpoint of the final with followers around the …

The J.League’s top youth teams will take on international competition over three days in the 2016 J.League U-17 Challenge Cup, which kicks off on Saturday at J-GREEN Sakai in Osaka. Finalists and champions from March’s U-16 Challenge League will be joined by Iran’s Foolad, South African side Mamelodi Sundowns and South Korea’s Uls…

The J.League is appealing to fans for uniform donations, which will be delivered to children in Sri Lanka late next month. In partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the league hopes to bring 300 uniforms to the Jaffna region, which was deeply affected by the country’s civil war. Since launching the initiative in 2011, the J…

Jubilo Iwata defender Kentaro Ohi will miss five to seven weeks after tearing a muscle in his left thigh, the club announced on Wednesday. The veteran suffered the injury in Jubilo’s 4-3 home loss to Vissel Kobe last week in the 11th round of the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League Second Stage. Ohi, who has made 27 appearances this season, may not be a…

Gamba Osaka on Wednesday announced an injury to midfielder Hiroyuki Abe. The 27-year-old tore his left calf muscle during the team’s recent win against Ventforet Kofu in the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League Second Stage Round 11. The club did not announce an expected date for Abe’s return to action.

FC Tokyo on Tuesday announced an untimely injury to Brazilian striker Muriqui, who will be out for over a month. The 30-year-old suffered ligament damage to his right knee in the team’s J.League YBC Levain Cup quarter-final match against Avispa Fukuoka on August 31. He is expected to require six weeks of recovery time. Muriqui, who arrived th…

Thespa Kusatsu Gunma midfielder Yuki Matsushita was named the latest MEIJI YASUDA J2 League Monthly MVP after contributing to his team’s undefeated month of August. The captain has led his squad on both sides of the ball since returning to Gunma last season. His stunning displays, such as his long-range goal against Kamatamare Sanuki, helped to …

Gamba Osaka striker Shun Nagasawa was named the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League Monthly MVP for August after several strong midsummer performances. Despite playing for just 130 minutes across four matches held last month, the 28-year-old scored four goals key goals in helping Gamba to rise to third place in the Second Stage title race.  His blistering vol…

The J.League has announced its schedule for the MEIJI YASUDA 2016 J.League Championship, confirming dates for the semi-final as well as the first leg of the final. Venues and kick-off times will be confirmed following the conclusion of the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League Second Stage. Kashima Antlers have booked their place in the title-deciding tournamen…

The 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League resumed on Saturday after breaking for the opening rounds of the Emperor’s Cup. A pair of goals from Ken Tokura helped Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo get past Thespa Kusatsu Gunma with a 3-1 win at the team’s alternate home ground of Atsubetsu Stadium. Second place Matsumoto Yamaga, currently nine points behind …

Kashima Antlers continue to struggle in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League Second Stage as they lost 2-0 at Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday. Despite chances falling to both teams, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock through Diego Oliveira right before the hour mark. Masatada Ishii’s First Stage winners responded by throwing more bodies forward and they w…

Omiya Ardija defender Takuya Wada is expected to miss the rest of the season after receiving surgery on his right foot, the club has announced. The 26-year-old underwent the procedure to repair damage to his Lisfranc ligament sustained in the second leg of the YBC Levain Cup quarterfinals. Wada, who is in his fourth year with the club, has made 20 ful…

Urawa Reds have announced Tsukasa Umesaki will miss the next six months after successfully undergoing surgery on his damaged left anterior cruciate ligament. The 29-year-old suffered the injury in his team’s YBC Levain Cup match last month against Vissel Kobe. Umesaki has one goal in 19 appearances this season for the Reds, who are currently sec…