The J. League applies a set of common rules to the media coverage of all official games.
Those intending to cover J. League games are requested to note and adhere to the following:

[ Common rules ]

• Accreditation will be granted to media intending to cover J. League games for the purpose of sports coverage. (The same applies to media accreditation for other official J. League events.)
• For regular J. League and J. League Cup games, all applicants (excluding some specially designated Japanese media organs) are requested to submit their application to the home club in advance.
• Restrictions apply to the number of journalists from each organisation that can be granted accreditation, depending on the media category. Refer to the table for details.
• For games or events hosted directly by the J. League, including the J. League Cup final and All-Star Soccer, all applicants are requested to submit their application to the J. League.
• Overseas TV broadcasters are requested to send their application to J. League Media Promotion, Inc. by e-mail.
• Overseas TV broadcasters may be charged a fee for shooting and broadcasting games.
• Accreditation may be withdrawn or denied indefinitely to any person deemed by the J. League or home club to have damaged Japanese football by, but not limited to, acting in a manner detrimental to the interests of the J. League or J. clubs or libelling any individual or organisation.
• Accreditation is not granted to media organisations that only provide news on the Internet (including mobile Internet).
• All accredited media are forbidden to distribute or post videos on Internet media.

[ Overview of media accreditation ]

• The details of accreditation for the coverage of official J. League games depend on the media category. There are three basic categories: pen journalist, still photographer and TV crew.

Category/Organisation	Accreditation Limit (Number of Persons)	Application Method
Pen Journalists
Media Organisations Belonging to the Japanese Press Club	4 persons per company	No application needed. Contact the club's press department if wishing to send more than 4 persons.
Media Organisations Not Belonging to the Japanese Press Club (including foreign press)	2 persons per company	Submit the completed application form to the press officer of the home club at least 3 days before the match. Be sure to include the name of your publication and attach the signature or seal of the editor in charge.
Freelance Writers		Submit the completed application form to the press officer of the home club at least 3 days before the match. Be sure to include the name of your publication and attach the signature or seal of the editor in charge.
Still Photographers
Media Organisations Belonging to the Japanese Press Club	4 persons per company	No application needed. Contact the club's press department if wishing to send more than 4 persons.
Media Organisations Not Belonging to the Japanese Press Club (including foreign press)	2 persons per company	Submit the completed application form to the press officer of the home club at least 3 days before the match. Be sure to include the name of your publication and attach the signature or seal of the editor in charge.
Freelance Photographers		Submit the completed application form to the press officer of the home club at least 3 days before the match. Be sure to include the name of your publication and attach the signature or seal of the editor in charge.
TV Cameras
Sports News Media Organisations Belonging to the Japanese Press Club	2 crews per company (1 crew = 4 persons, including director)	No application needed. Contact the club's press department if wishing to send more than 4 persons.
Foreign TV	1 crew per company (1 crew = 4 persons, including director)	Contact J. League Media Promotion, Inc. Fees may be charged depending on how the video material is used.

[ Applying to conduct media coverage ]

• Use the designated application form, which can be obtained from the J. League secretariat or press officer of the J. League Club.
• Submit the completed application form to the press officer of the home club at least 3 days before the match. Submit the form to the J. League press officer if the match is hosted directly by the J. League, such as the All-Star Soccer match.
• Overseas TV broadcasters should contact J. League Media Promotion, Inc. to request game accreditation. The application procedures will be explained directly by them.
• First-time applicants may be asked to send proof of their media credentials, such as a copy of their foreign correspondent registration certificate, company ID card, publications or a letter from the publisher requesting the article, together with their application form.

[ Rules of coverage in the stadium ]
Each stadium has its own rules. All journalists are expected to adhere strictly to the coverage guide distributed by the home club on the day of the game.
Any journalist who fails to adhere to any rule stipulated by the J. League or home club may be asked to leave and have his/her coverage activity suspended indefinitely.

• Accredited media members are requested to present themselves at the media reception desk located at each venue.
• Accreditation cards and cameraman/photographer bibs will be distributed at the media reception desk upon presentation of an original or photocopy of the application form and appropriate ID card (e.g. press card).
• All media must wear the accreditation card and/or bib in the stadium at all times, and return it to the media reception desk when leaving without fail.
• Should any accreditation card or bib be lost or damaged due to the negligence of a member of the media, such member may be requested to pay for the damage and will not be considered entitled to receive a replacement accreditation card or bib.

Media	Accreditation Category	Colour	Press Room	Mixed zone	Pitch Level	Press Tribune	Camera Position in Spectator Area
Pen Journalists	Accreditation Card	Light Green	√	√	X	√	X
Still Photographer	Bib	Yellow	√	√	√	X	X
TV Crew	Bib	Red	√	√	√	X	√

√ : access permitted    X: access not permitted

• Journalists must stay within the designated coverage areas and obey the instructions of the staff. Coverage/shooting is allowed only in the areas where access is permitted. No coverage/shooting is allowed in the spectator areas (stands), concourses, etc.
• Smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas.

( Special rules for journalists )

• No interviews are allowed with managers and/or players between the start of pre-match warming up on the pitch and the end of the game.
• Press seats, (the "Press Tribune"), are located in the stands and some seats are reserved. No photography is allowed in the Press Tribune.

( Special rules for cameramen & photographers)

• Use designated pitch-level photo positions behind the goal and touch lines.
• On the main stand side of the stadium, photography is allowed in certain stadiums along a diagonal line from the corner flag to a distance 1m or more from the bench.
• TV cameramen are requested to shoot from behind the still photographers, and may be asked to move by the venue press staff if a TV camera obstructs the view for the spectators.
• Still photographers are requested to use a unipod only.
  Photographers are not allowed to change position except at half time. Official photographers and host broadcaster cameramen may change their position.
• Only TV crews are allowed to enter camera positions in the stands. No stand positions are provided for still photographers.
• No photography is allowed within the Press Tribune.
• Never enter the pitch.
• Shooting of the team photo before kick-off must be performed within the designated area according to the instructions of the venue staff.
• No media member is allowed to send any data to an on-air program or Internet medium in real time using any communication device, including a mobile phone, except with prior permission.

• Starting line-ups will be distributed in the Press Room, etc. at least 110 minutes before the game.
• Official match records will be distributed in the Press Room, etc. after the game.

• The managers of each team shall, separately, give a press conference after the game.
• Players can be interviewed in the Mixed Zone.