Breaking News — Major League Soccer is suspending the current regular season for the time being, according to Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated. The move comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic. Meanwhile, the league’s decision comes a day after the NBA halted its own regular-season.
Major League Soccer Suspends Season for 30 Days pic.twitter.com/P0HEPmsnkx
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2020
In addition to MLS’s decision, the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams have cancelled friendlies for March and April. The men were supposed to head overseas to face Wales and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the USWNT was supposed to host Australia and Brazil in April.
However, both matches have been cancelled.
MLS has a team competing tonight, but not in a league-mandated game. Instead, Los Angeles FC is supposed to feature against Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions League.
Reports from Mexico, that tonight's #LAFC match will be postponed. https://t.co/NopBWeUIEL
— Treb – trebtracy.bsky.social (@trebtracy) March 12, 2020
In addition, the CCL has not announced any COVID-19 plans.
The NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus. According to Yahoo! Sports, the virus has spread in the locker room to teammate Donovan Mitchell. Gobert is under fire for making jokes about the virus and touching microphones and reporters’ recorders on Monday.
ESPN writer Adrian Wojnarowski said that Gobert has been “careless in the locker room, touching other players and their belongings.”
Other leagues affected by Coronavirus
There have been no reports from MLS that a player has tested positive for COVID-19. The National Women’s Soccer League is supposed to kick off its regular-season next month. On Tuesday, the league issued the following statement.
#NWSL issues the following statement on COVID-19 ahead of the 2020 season: pic.twitter.com/AbIXv1uU3x
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 10, 2020
Other leagues around the world to either suspend the season or play matches behind closed doors include La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga and Russian Premier League. More teams are expected to follow suit, along with leagues.
