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Major League Soccer has announced that it will suspend play league-wide for the next 30 days due to the rapid spread of COVID-19. The MLS announcement says that the league will announce plans on what continuing the season will look like, and when the games over the next month will be played (if, in fact, they are to be played).
Major League Soccer Suspends Season for 30 Days pic.twitter.com/FLUqzttwrK
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) March 12, 2020
Games will be cancelled for the next 30 days as the league figures out what to do in response to the fast-spreading pandemic. That looks like it would cancel D.C. United’s next four games, including those against FC Cincinnati, Philadelphia Union, New York City FC, and San Jose Earthquakes.
According to Steve Goff of the Washington Post, the League is currently planning to move the delayed games to the end of the season.
MLS planning to reschedule postponed matches on the back-end of the season in the fall. Last season and this season have ended a month earlier than typical in order to stream-line the campaign, so there is flexibility.
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) March 12, 2020
Just yesterday, the District of Columbia’s Department of Health recommended earlier today that gatherings of over 1,000 people taking place between today and March 31 be postponed or cancelled, while the governor of Ohio said that while indoor events required a change (for example, NCAA basketball tournament games in Dayton will be played without spectators), outdoor events are currently still allowed.
Now DC Dept Health recommendation to cancel mass gatherings of 1,000 or more. #coronavirus #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/TiYFj3r2W5
— Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) March 11, 2020
ATHLETICS: For indoor events, we are asking for no events with spectators other than the athletes, parents, and others essential to the game.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 10, 2020
Right now, outdoor events can continue. #COVID19
With COVID-19’s rapid spread, this situation will continue to change. We will keep you all up to date as we hear more about the MLS season and where it goes from here.