2020 J3 League
The 2020 J3 League, referred to as the 2020 Meiji Yasuda J3 League (Japanese: 2020 明治安田生命J3リーグ, Hepburn: 2020 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J3 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, is the 7th season of J3 League under its current name.
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 27 June - TBA (originally planned on March 7th) |
| Relegated | none (for season 2020 only) |
← 2019 2021 → | |
On March 19, the J.League announced no relegation would take place for the 2020 season, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season.
Postponement of the beginning of the season
Due to COVID-19 outbreak and concerns, the JFA opted to postpone the beginning of the season, firstly established for March 7.[1]
On February 25, all J.League matches until March 15 were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] After that, it was announced that it would be postponed until March 29.[3] On March 19, the J.League announced no relegation would take place for the 2020 season, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season.[4] On March 25, announced that it would be Suspended April 3 to May 6.[5]
On April 3, decided to starting over the official game schedule, which aims to gradually resume J3 from April 25, J2 from May 2, and J1 from May 9. Note that, considering a new schedule in the future, but it will resume it at least one month later and later in the month.[6]
On May 29, J.LEAGUE announced to decided to resume on June 27.[7] On June 9, announced to About schedule announcements of the 2020.[8] On June 15, announced to New dates. The first 2 matches in each league (J3 1st-2nd sec. ) will be held without spectators.[9]
Clubs
2019 season saw two teams promoted to J2 League: Giravanz Kitakyushu won the championship after being for three seasons in the third tier, while Thespakusatsu Gunma won promotion just in the last game of the season.[10] From second division, there was a double automatic relegation for the second time: FC Gifu will play their first season in J3 after being in the second division for the last 12 years, when J3 League wasn't even on the cards.[11] Alongside them, an incredible final of the 2019 season pushed Kagoshima United FC immediately back to J3, just one year after sealing their first-ever participation to the second tier. This is the last J3 League season that features the U-23 teams from J1 League. On June 5, FC Tokyo U-23 withdrew from the league.
Also, Japan Football League saw the promotion of another time: after two fifth-placed performances, FC Imabari came third in 2019 and booked their first professional season in their history.[12]
| Club Name | Home Town | Stadium | Capacity | Last season | licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azul Claro Numazu | Numazu | Ashitaka Stadium | 10,000 | J3（12th） | J3 |
| Blaublitz Akita | Akita | Akigin Stadium | 4,992 | J3（8th） | J2 |
| FC Gifu | All cities/towns in Gifu[lower-alpha 1] | Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium | 26,109 |  |
J1 |
| FC Imabari | Imabari | Arigato Service Dream Stadium | 5,000 |  | J3 |
| Fukushima United FC | Fukushima | Toho Stadium | 21,000 | J3（11th） | J3 |
| Gainare Tottori | All cities/towns in Tottori [lower-alpha 2] | Torigin Bird Stadium | 16,033 | J3（7th） | J2 |
| Iwate Grulla Morioka | All cities/towns in Iwate | Iwagin Stadium | 4,946 | J3（18th） | J3 |
| Kamatamare Sanuki | All cities/towns in Kagawa [lower-alpha 3] | Pikara Stadium | 30,099 | J3（14th） | J2 |
| Kagoshima United FC | Kagoshima | Shiranami Stadium | 19,934 | | J1 |
| Kataller Toyama | All cities/towns in Toyama[lower-alpha 4] | Toyama Athletic Stadium | 25,251 | J3（4th） | J1 |
| Fujieda MYFC | Cities/towns in Shizuoka Prefecture[lower-alpha 5] | Fujieda Soccer Field | 13,000 | J3（3rd） | J3 |
| Nagano Parceiro | Nagano | Nagano U Stadium | 15,491 | J3（9th） | J2 |
| Roasso Kumamoto | Kumamoto, Kumamoto | Egao Kenko Stadium | 32,000 | J3（5th） | J1 |
| SC Sagamihara | Sagamihara | Gion Stadium | 15,300 | J3（15th） | J3 |
| Vanraure Hachinohe | Eastern cities/towns in Aomori[lower-alpha 6] | Daihatsu Stadium | 5,200 | J3（10th） | J3 |
| YSCC Yokohama | Yokohama | Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium | 15,454 | J3（13th） | J3 |
| Cerezo Osaka U-23 | Osaka & Sakai, Osaka | Kincho Stadium | 19,904 | J3（6th） | - |
| Gamba Osaka U-23 | North cities in Osaka | Panasonic Stadium Suita | 39,694
21,000 |
J3（17th） | - |
- centering on Gifu
- centering on Tottori, Yonago, Kurayoshi, Sakaiminato
- centering on Takamatsu, Marugame
- centering on Toyama
- Fujieda, Shimada, Yaizu, Makinohara, Yoshida, Kawanehonmachi
- Hachinohe, Towada, Gonohe, Sannohe, Takko, Hashikami, Nanbu, Shingo, Oirase, Misawa, Shichinohe, Rokunohe, Tohoku, Noheji, Yokohama, Rokkasho
Personnel and kits
League table
It was decided on 19 March to change the format regarding the rules for promotion/relegation for the end of the season for the J1, J2 and J3 leagues,[13] such that there would be no relegation this season, that two clubs from the J2 League would be promoted to the 2021 J1 League, and that two clubs from the J3 League would be promoted to the 2021 J2 League (subject to licensing regulations).
FC Tokyo U-23's withdrawal approval was approved at the board meeting held on June 5, and 2020 J3 League are held with 18 teams.[14]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blaublitz Akita | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 3 | Promotion to 2021 J2 League[lower-alpha 1] |
| 2 | Fukushima United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | |
| 3 | Gamba Osaka U-23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Roasso Kumamoto | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 | |
| 5 | Azul Claro Numazu | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | |
| 6 | Gainare Tottori | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 | |
| 7 | Kataller Toyama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 8 | Nagano Parceiro | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 9 | FC Gifu | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 10 | FC Imabari | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 | SC Sagamihara | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 12 | YSCC Yokohama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 13 | Kagoshima United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 0 | |
| 14 | Kamatamare Sanuki | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 0 | |
| 15 | Fujieda MYFC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 | |
| 16 | Cerezo Osaka U-23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 | |
| 17 | Vanraure Hachinohe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | |
| 18 | Iwate Grulla Morioka | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goal scored; 6) Number of wins; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fair-play points
Notes:
- Only teams that hold a J2 licence are eligible for promotion.
References
- https://www.jleague.jp/release/post-63207/
- "2020Jリーグ 明治安田生命J1リーグ 第2節～第4節 明治安田生命J2リーグ 第2節～第4節 明治安田生命J3リーグ 第1節～第2節 JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ グループステージ第2節～第3節 開催延期のお知らせ" (Press release) (in Japanese). 日本プロサッカーリーグ. 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
- "J.LEAGUE to Extend Suspension of Matches" (Press release). Official. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- "J. League to skip relegation as schedule threatened by coronavirus" (Press release). The Japan Times. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- "J.LEAGUE Further Extends Suspension of Matches" (Press release). Official. 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
- "再開の日程は白紙に。第5回新型コロナウイルス対策連絡会議会見レポート" (Press release) (in Japanese). 日本プロサッカーリーグ. 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
- "About the resumption/opening dates of the J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- "About schedule announcements of the 2020 J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- "2020 J.LEAGUE Match Schedules" (Press release). Official. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- https://www.footballchannel.jp/2019/12/01/post350718/
- https://www.fc-gifu.com/news_information/54091.html
- https://www.jleague.jp/release/post-61740/
- "J.LEAGUE to Change Format in the 2020 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE" (Press release). Official. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- "ＦＣ東京Ｕ－２３ Ｊ３リーグへの参加辞退について" (Press release) (in Japanese). 日本プロサッカーリーグ. 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2020-06-27.