Canadian soccer loop gears up to resume play
CPL clubs and players agree on plan for 2020
The Canadian Premier League is getting the ball rolling on a possible return to the pitch.
On Friday, the country’s professional soccer loop joined its owners, clubs, and player leadership in announcing the structure and concept of a proposed strategy for a 2020 CPL season.
The CPL said it feels an obligation to get back on the pitch and will look for player input and support.
The league added the health and safety of all is the single most important issue it faces and that it’s vital appropriate health and safety protocols mandated by the local and provincial officials are in place and agreed to by all stakeholders — CPL players, clubs, owners and Canada Soccer, the league’s governing body.
“Our position since we began the journey of building the League from the ground up has been to work together,” CPL commissioner David Clanachan said. “We started this process behind
landed in an excellent and unanimous position.
the scenes many weeks ago in consultation with our owners on the many details and protocols required to safely return to the field of play and potential opportunities that may emerge. This led to the next step of a collaborative discussion with the players this week.
“It’s been gratifying and rewarding to see how much collective enthusiasm and co-operation there has been, and we have landed in an excellent and unanimous position with our clubs and club player leadership,” Clanachan added.
The news was welcomed by the CPL’S newest franchise.
“I’m happy to see players across the league involved in discussions regarding our return to competition. I support the proposed plan for a 2020 CPL season,” said Ben Fisk of Atlético Ottawa. “We want to give the fans of Ottawa- Gatineau who have been patiently waiting an opportunity to see their new club play.”