ZCZC
BSP-06
FBL-JPN-VIRUS-HEALTH
J-League match off after Nagoya players test positive for virus
TOKYO, July 26, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Japan’s top-flight football league called
off a match Sunday after two Nagoya Grampus players tested positive for
coronavirus, the first game shelved since the J-League resumed a month ago.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s home match against Nagoya on Sunday evening was
called off as Japan battles a surge of COVID-19 infections, particularly in
cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, stoking public fears about a second wave.
Nagoya defender Kazuya Miyahara developed fever and headache on Friday and
tested positive for the virus.
The team tested 60 players and officials, with another player and a staff
member testing positive despite showing no symptoms.
“We had a meeting in the morning, and decided to cancel this game,” J-
League chairman Mitsuru Murai told local media.
“I think the way the team conducted itself was appropriate. But the fact
that positive cases have been detected tells us that we need to continue to
work on our infection prevention measures,” Murai said.
Major sports such as football, baseball and sumo resumed competitions in
front of limited number of fans over the past few weeks under strict
infection-prevention protocols.
Eight other first-division games on Sunday were expected to go ahead as
scheduled.
The J-League returned to action behind closed doors in June and began
allowing fans into stadiums earlier this month.
Japan reported 809 new cases on Saturday, compared with 99 cases detected
a month ago and 27 cases found on May 26.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1143 hrs