Major League Soccer is temporarily suspending its season due to coronavirus pandemic
Major League Soccer joined the NBA in calling a halt to games due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Jorge Mas, the managing owner for Inter Miami CF, told reporters on Thursday morning that MLS hopes to restart in 30 days.
“We’ve made a decision as a league this morning, as owners, that play will be suspended temporarily,” Mas said in Miami. “The target on that is 30 days.”
Sporting Kansas City, which has a 2-0 record, was scheduled to play Saturday at Atlanta. Its next home game, which would have been against Real Salt Lake, was scheduled for March 28.
It also has games scheduled on April 4 (at Galaxy) and April 11 (at Nashville).
“The league is working on rescheduling the games,” Mas said. “We fully anticipate that we will play all of our 34 games.”
Here is Mas’ announcement:
After Mas’ news conference, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said in a statement: “Our clubs were united today in the decision temporarily suspend our season — based on the advice and guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and other public authorities, and in the best interest of our fans, players, officials, and employees. We’d like to thank our fans for their continued support during this challenging time.”
The United States women’s and men’s national teams are also postponing its games through April.
The men’s team was scheduled to play in Europe later this month, taking on the Netherlands (March 26) and Wales (March 30). The women’s team was set to play host to Australia and Brazil next month.
“With the health of our players, coaches, staff and fans as our main priority, U.S. Soccer has decided it was in the best interest to cancel the majority of our upcoming domestic and international camps at all levels, including our senior Men’s and Women’s National Team games in March and April, due to the outbreak of COVID-19,” U.S. Soccer chief medical officer George Chiampas said in a statement.
“We have been in communication with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local departments of public health, and after those conversations and continuously monitoring the situation, we strongly believe this is the best decision considering the ongoing worldwide health situation.”
The under-23 men’s national team in Guadalajara, Mexico, is scheduled to take part in the CONCACAF men’s Olympic qualifying tournament from March 20-April 1. U.S. Soccer said it is working with CONCACAF officials about the status of the competition.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 10:33 AM with the headline "Major League Soccer is temporarily suspending its season due to coronavirus pandemic."
