Japanese pro baseball and soccer leagues hoping to play in April

Medical experts suggested top-flight Japanese baseball and football to resume matches at the latest timing at the end of April during a joint presser conference on Monday.

Nippon Professional Baseball Organisation (NPB) and J.League received advice from medical experts during a fourth meeting of the joint panel to assess the virus outbreak.

Medical experts Mitsuo Kaku said "at the moment, I suggest setting a target to restart and open their seasons at the latest timing at the end of April."

Both leagues have been targeting to return at the beginning of April, but now it seems like they need to push it back further.

NPB had announced the postponement of the opening day of the season, while the J League had decided not to restart their regular season because of the spread of the coronavirus.

Baseball and soccer are among many sports that have seen matches and events cancelled, or have taken place behind closed doors.