MLS suspends schedule, CFL shuts down all activities

Major League Soccer has suspended all games, effective immediately, for 30 days, as it continues to assess the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

The decision will mean postponements for upcoming matches involving Toronto FC, the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps.

“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, Public Health Agency of Canada, and other public health authorities, and in the best interest of our fans, players, officials and employees,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber.

At the appropriate time, MLS and clubs will communicate plans for the continuation of the 2020 season and update the status of league events.

Prior to Thursday’s developments, MLS had mandated that its teams take charter flights for road trips for the foreseeable future because of the outbreak.

Also Thursday, in response to the ongoing pandemic, the Canadian Football League cancelled upcoming regional player combines in Montreal, Edmonton and Toronto, the international combine in Toronto at the end of the month, all community outreach and school visits, all free agent camps in the United States, as well as commissioner Randy Ambrosie’s March 19 visit to Halifax, which was part of Randy’s Road Trip across the country.

After consulting with the CFL Players’ Association, the league also cancelled an event that would have brought several current players and media outlets to Toronto for interviews in advance of the international combine. League meetings scheduled for the same time period will be conducted remotely.