Ibaraki Prefecture's independent state of emergency has been extended until Sunday, September 12th. In response to the request to restrict events at prefectural facilities throughout the prefecture, we have decided to hold the YBC Levain Cup Prime Stage Quarterfinal 2nd Leg match against Nagoya Grampus (September 5th) and the 2021 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchday 28 against Avispa Fukuoka (September 11th) behind closed doors, and to suspend ticket sales and issue refunds for these matches. We would like to inform you of this decision.
Under the prefecture's independent state of emergency, all prefectural facilities, including Kashima Soccer Stadium, are requested to cancel or postpone events, or if events are held, to thoroughly confirm negative PCR or antigen test results within one week before the event for all facility users, regardless of vaccination status. If it is difficult to fully comply with these conditions, events are to be held behind closed doors.
The club, as a designated administrator, has been consulting with the prefecture regarding holding matches with spectators, based on its track record of operating matches in compliance with the J-League's COVID-19 response guidelines (which currently allow for an attendance limit of 5,000 people or 50% of capacity under a government state of emergency), and consistency with event crowd-gathering at non-prefectural facilities within the prefecture, while continuing to thoroughly implement infection prevention measures. However, given the request for negative PCR or antigen test results, and the fact that it would place a further burden on already strained medical facilities and visiting customers, as well as the extreme difficulty of implementing such operations thoroughly, we had no choice but to conclude that holding matches with spectators is realistically impossible. Due to these circumstances, we have decided to hold the two home matches during the target period behind closed doors, and ticket sales for these matches will be suspended.
Details regarding ticket refunds for the target matches will be announced again as soon as they are finalized.
We appreciate your understanding.
■Target Matches:
September 5th (Sunday) 18:00 Kick-off
2021 J.LEAGUE YBC Levain Cup Prime Stage Quarterfinal 2nd Leg vs Nagoya Grampus
September 11th (Saturday) 18:00 Kick-off
2021 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchday 28 vs Avispa Fukuoka
■Request from Ibaraki Prefecture
・Cancel or postpone matches at Kashima Soccer Stadium, a prefectural facility.
・As a condition for holding events, all users, including spectators, must have confirmed negative PCR or antigen test results (within one week before the event), regardless of vaccination status. If negative confirmation is difficult, the event will be held behind closed doors.