Season 2012 sees changes in the J.League, the biggest change being the fact that teams from J2 can be relegated to the JFL, although there are various things to be taken into consideration in that particular area.

Relegation for J1 is the same as in recent years, with the bottom three teams automatically going down to J2. In some previous incarnations of J.League there has been a play-off system in place giving the 3rd from bottom team a chance to hold on to their J1 status – not this year!
The top two teams in J2 will be promoted automatically, while there will be a play-off in place for the third promotion place between the teams that finish from 3rd to 6th in J2.

The play-off systems for J2 to J1 and for JFL to J2 are skewed in favour of the team that finished higher in the league, which I find I am in agreement with – how about you? Read on ….

The play-off will be a simple 3rd against 6th and 4th against 5th – the 3rd and 4th teams having home advantage. The two winners will then play-off for the third J1 place. These two games will be one-legged games and, if scores are level at 90 minutes, the team that finished higher in J2 will go through to the final play-off match. The final play-off match will be at Kokuritsu National Stadium, and a one-off game, also with the higher placed team winning if scores are level after 90 minutes.

Relegation from J2 is a possibility, with the bottom team going down automatically, and the champion of the JFL being promoted. The team second from bottom (21st) in J2 will host a home game against the team that came 2nd in the JFL, but the JFL team must win that game within 90 minutes. There will be no extra time and, if the game ends in a draw, the J2 team keeps its place in the division.

Having said that, teams in the JFL who wish to enter the J.League must become Associate Members of the J.League before being eligible for promotion. Some clubs do not want to be promoted and have intentionally not applied for Associate Membership, other clubs do not yet qualify. In the event that an ineligible club finishes top of the JFL the 21st team in J2 retains its place in the J.League and the bottom club hosts a play-off with the JFL’s runner up. If the clubs that finish 1st and 2nd in the JFL do not meet the criteria top join the J.league, no team will be relegated. The honour of playing for a J2 place will not go down to 3rd place in the JFL – for this year, at least.

As of August 1st, the JFL teams that are eligible to take a 2013 place in J2 are: V-Varen Nagasaki, Kamatamare Sanuki, Nagano Parceiro. Also granted Associate Membership – S.C. Sagamihara, who are still in Kantō League Div. 1 but getting full marks for planning ahead!!

Criteria for being granted Associate Membership of J.League includes (but is not limited to) the following stipulations:

The club must be an entity or organization solely devoted to football (ie. no university or company teams accepted) and at least half of the shares of stock must be of Japanese ownership.
The club must have feasible financial status, whatever that actually means (Manchester United would probably not be given J.League Associate Membership!!?). The J.League recommends ¥ 1.5 million of capital for J2 promotion and 5 million by the end of the third year in J2.
There are also some rules in place on employees, payroll system and taxes.

Stadium necessities include the fact that the home stadium (and training ground/facilities) must be located in the proposed hometown and the team must have (or have plans to build/reconstruct) a stadium with capacity of 10,000 and a natural grass pitch, along with an acceptable press box and conference room.

JSoccer.com hope that’s helped you understand the ins and outs of the growing J.League family!