On the 27th of this month, Sendai Sony, a JFL (Japanese fourth-tier league) team, officially announced that it will withdraw from the league after this season and cease all club-related activities by the end of the year.
Sendai Sony officials stated: “We have decided to conclude our activities by the end of 2024. Today, we have submitted an application for withdrawal to the Japan Football Association, which will be approved and formally decided upon in upcoming board meetings. With the support of the local community, we have promoted many community-based activities, such as opening football schools. However, after a series of discussions about the future of the team, we regretfully inform everyone that the team will terminate its activities by the end of the year, and the football school will also close in March 2025.”
It is worth noting that since Sendai Sony is fully funded by Sony Corporation and falls under the category of a corporate team, even with qualified venues and youth teams, the team cannot be promoted to the professional league. In the upcoming reform from autumn to spring in 2026, clubs that cannot be promoted and are located in northern areas will face the greatest financial challenge in history, which may be the main reason for Sendai Sony’s decision to withdraw.
Japanese Fourth-Division Team Sendai Sony Officially Announces Exit from Professional League at Year-End; Changes in League Structure May Be the Main Reason. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/japanese-fourth-division-team-sendai-sony-officially-announces-exit-from-professional-league-at-year-end-changes-in-league-structure-may-be-the-main-reason.html
