MLS suspends season for 30 days due to coronavirus pandemic
Major League Soccer announced on Thursday the suspension of all of their games, effective immediately, for 30 days due to the impact of COVID-19.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected all major sports in the United States and the Major League Soccer announced Thursday morning the immediate suspension of all games of the 2020 season for at least 30 days.
MLS announced its decision through a press release that said the following: Major League Soccer has suspended match play for 30 days, effective immediately, as the league continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 with its medical task force and public health officials.
At the appropriate time, the league and clubs will communicate plans for the continuation of the 2020 season and update the status of league events.
“Our clubs were united today in the decision to temporarily suspend our season – based on the advice and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and other public health authorities, and in the best interest of our fans, players, officials and employees,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “We’d like to thank our fans for their continued support during this challenging time.”
MLS announcement came in the wake of the NBA suspending its season on Wednesday night and this morning other major sports like NHL and MLB have done the same thing. Prior to this announcement two MLS matches scheduled for March 21 had already been postponed in Seattle and San Jose as measures are taken to contain COVID-19, which to date has seen over 1,000 confirmed cases in the U.S.