Tuesday 7 May 2013

Evolution of the J. League

First published on Afshin Ghotbi's official website, April 25th 2013.

The Ever Changing Face of the J. League
The current format of the J. League’s top flight, a single stage, three points for a win, one for a draw, has only been in use since 2005. The preceding two thirds of the league’s history have seen a multitude of formats and different methods of winning. With rumours afoot of more changes, Barry Valder takes a look back at the evolving face of the J. League, and explains why further alterations should be approached with caution.
Pointless Beginnings
The inaugural J. League season was played over two stages but organised otherwise, at least on the surface, conventionally. Teams played each other home and away once each stage. With ten founding members it equated to 18 games per team, per stage; effectively two full seasons of football. The winner of each went head to head in the Suntory Championship to decide the year’s champions.
An early curiosity was the absence of draws. Games were decided, if not within the 90 minutes, then by either an extra time golden goal or penalty kicks. Further quirks included a pointless league system. That is to say, the league table contained no points column. With no 3 for a win and 1 for a draw, teams were ranked simply on wins, followed by goal difference. Points were introduced in 1995, but even then with a spin. Teams could claim the usual 3 for a win, but losing a penalty shoot out would still earn a point. A nod to the oft cited arbitrary nature of penalty kicks. 
Juggling the Numbers
In 1996, with the league expanded to 16 teams, two stages of 30 games each were considered too much, and the year was contested over a single phase. This single season format was short lived. The addition of Vissel Kobe in 1997 saw it abandoned in favour of the preferred two phases, made possible by teams playing opponents once home and once away, but spread over both the two stages.
The points system would also be overhauled, with teams awarded 3 for a win within 90 minutes, 2 for a golden goal victory, and 1 for win in a shoot out. Losers on penalties were no longer recognised for ending 120 minute all square, and received nothing. Additional tweaking in 1999 finally saw draws permitted. Golden goals were maintained as a two point victory, but the spoils were now shared in games ending level after 120 minutes. 
In the first season after the Japan / South Korea World Cup the J. League assumed a largely traditional form. 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, no penalty kicks and no extra time. The season was still split over two stages, but 2004 would prove the final time. From 2005 there was no longer to be an end of year play off. With the league fought over a single season, the champions were decided simply by points won. 
This change addressed, albeit after the event, the awkward fact that 2000’s best performing team were excluded from the championship play off. Despite winning the most points over the year, Kashiwa Reysol failed to top either stage. As such, they stepped aside as Kashima Antlers, with four fewer points and an inferior goal difference, claimed the title against Yokohama Marinos.
Don’t Go Changing
Citing falling gate receipts, April 2013 saw reports of the league eyeing a returning to a two stage format. The logic runs that an increase in games infused with trophy interest will retain fans is greater numbers. It is easy too to understand the temptations a championship marquee event brings. TV rights and sponsorship deals are an obvious goldmine, with a glamorous winner-takes-all season climax custom made for TV audiences. But a return to reliance on orchestrated drama is a dangerous route to take. Having evolved steadily away from the induced excitement of penalty shoot outs and golden goals, grand final-type events should be viewed beyond their superficial lure. Rather, they need to be evaluated on whether after an entire season’s play they provide a just outcome.
In the extreme circumstance of 2000, Kashiwa Reysol missed out on even a playoff berth, but when both top performing teams did make the playoff, only two from twelve were won by the club with the highest season points total. 1999 saw a discrepancy of sixteen points between finalists.  With Shimizu S-Pulse five wins better off than opponents Jubilo Iwata, it was perhaps inevitable that Iwata would prevail in the playoff. Moreover, the game was decided on penalty kicks; a year of football forgotten as two teams tossed the proverbial coin. The shoot out lottery was repeated in 2004. Urawa Red Diamonds lost to a Yokohama F. Marinos side 3 points and a goal difference inferior in the combined league table.
Just The Way You Are
Faced with a downward trend in spectatorship we must broaden our focus beyond quick fix solutions. The biggest average gates in 2012 were housed in new, covered stadia. With many Japanese football venues still old, uncovered, athletics grounds, the attractiveness to floating customers is immediately limited. Improving the supporter experience is just one long term process to help tackle the issue. Perhaps higher outlay than a competition reformat, but as one of Asia’s best, the J. League should have greater confidence in its pulling power without resorting to manufactured thrills. 
2005’s closing day saw arguably the league’s finest moment. In a remarkable 90 minutes the championship swung repeatedly between several title contenders. At full time the top five were separated by a single point, but a clear champion was crowned. An orthodox league structure, the only true gauge of performance over the year, can at the same time cultivate organic drama beyond any script.
Above all, supporters desire a just outcome. Awarding the title Champions to any team other than the best undermines a competition; far from a solid basis from which to build. Most major leagues follow a uniform format for the simple reason it is fair and it works. Reversing falling crowd numbers is a big task, but perhaps the biggest challenge is to do so without re-inviting question marks over the name engraved on the championship trophy.

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