November 5, 2020
Japan Fair Trade Commission
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “JFTC”) has investigated Nippon Professional Baseball (hereinafter referred to as the “NPB”).
The NPB is the Japanese top professional baseball organization, which consists of two leagues, the Central League and the Pacific League. A total of 12 teams (hereinafter referred to as “12 teams”) belongs to the NPB: 6 teams in the Central League and 6 teams in the Pacific League.
The JFTC investigated an alleged conduct that the NPB caused the 12 teams to refuse to sign contracts with certain baseball players. Specifically, the NPB decided that if an amateur baseball player who is eligible for selection in the NPB draft makes a denial of being selected at the NPB draft or joining a team which gains the negotiating right with the player through the NPB draft, and contracts with a foreign baseball team, the 12 teams will not select the player at future NPB drafts for a specific period of time after the foreign baseball team terminates the contract with the player.
During the JFTC's investigation, the NPB reported to the JFTC that the NPB took voluntary measures such as repealing the agreement, publicizing the repeal and informing related organizations of its action. Since the JFTC recognized these measures would eliminate the suspected violation mentioned above, the JFTC decided to close the investigation.
＊This announcement is a tentative translation.
Please refer to the original text written in Japanese for more details.
