J.League chairman Mitsuru Murai on Friday released a statement concerning Thursday's Kumamoto Earthquake. 

The statement was released before the magnitude 7.3 earthquake which occurred late Friday night in the same region. 

“We offer our deepest condolences to those who have suffered as a result of the Kumamoto Earthquake and pray for those who have perished,” the official stated.

“The hometown of Roasso Kumamoto, a member of our J.League family, has been deeply affected by this disaster. Thankfully the club’s players, staff, and other officials were unharmed, but many in the area remain missing and rescue efforts continue. With aftershocks still a possibility, the situation remains unpredictable.

“But even in times like these, football can still cheer people up. The Great East Japan Earthquake united J.League fans and supporters in providing assistance to the affected regions. Already, our clubs have begun collecting donations for Kumamoto.

“In order to further our efforts outside of the stadium, we will be collecting donations via the internet for the first time. We are grateful to Japan’s football family for your continued support.”