MLS extends team training moratorium to Friday

The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak’s effect on sports around the world (all times local): 5 p.m. Major League Soccer has extended the moratorium on team training through Friday.

MLS announced a 30day suspension of match play on Thursday because of the new coronavirus.

The league said Sunday that players should remain in the market of their team and exercise safe social distancing. MLS said it is working with its players’ association and other North American professional leagues on a protocol to allow players at training facilities for rehabilitation or individual training.

••• 2:10 p.m. Professional soccer is shutting down in Mexico following Sunday’s matches, which were already being played with no fans present as a precaution due to the new coronavirus.

The measure applies to the men’s top flight and second division as well as the fledgling women’s league.

Soccer officials said in a statement that the suspension would remain in effect until it’s determined that it’s safe to restart play in coordination with Mexico’s Health Department.

Mexico previously played soccer matches without fans for several weeks during the 2009 H1N1 influenza health emergency, an outbreak with Mexico as the epicenter.

Federal health officials on Saturday night raised the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country to 41, up from 26 the previous day and 11 the day before that. On Sunday at least two more were announced by state-level authorities.

••• 4:45 p.m. Brazil’s soccer confederation has suspended all competitions under its control due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The tournaments affected include the men’s Brazilian Cup, the top two tiers of the women’s Brazilian championship, and junior tournaments.

The men’s top-tier Brazilian championship is scheduled to begin in April.

The decision does not affect state championships currently being played. Some matches were held without any fans this weekend in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. São Paulo, Rio and other state soccer bodies are set to decide Monday on their course of action.

••• 6:45 p.m. Soccer players at Brazilian club Gremio have staged a protest of their own by wearing face masks on the field before the start of their game against São José on Sunday.

Gremio players and coaching staff arrived at the Rio Grande do Sul state championship game wearing the masks.

Authorities in Brazil have not ordered the cancellation or postponement of sporting events because of the corona pandemic but recommended that games are held without fans.

Grêmio beat tiny São José 3-2 with no fans present.

••• 5:15 p.m. The Italian soccer federation is planning to ask UEFA to postpone the European Championship.

Federation president Gabriele Gravina tells Mediaset TV that Italian officials want Serie A to be completed by June 30.

The Stadio Olimpico in Rome is slated to host the opening match of Euro 2020 on June 12, plus three other games of the tournament.

Gravina says, “The hope is to finish by June 30. … And we’ll need to insert the Champions League and Europa League also. The deadline is June 30, then we’ll eventually see if we need to exceed that.”

He adds, “We’ll propose to UEFA that they postpone the Euros.”

Serie A is currently suspended until April 3, along with all other sports in Italy, the European epicenter of the virus outbreak.

UEFA has a meeting planned on Tuesday to discuss the calendar.

The virus outbreak has also tested the limits of soccer’s World Cup schedule.