Top-level football is suspended

TOP-LEVEL domestic football in Wales will cease immediately after its elite status was rescinded amid efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was made by the National Sport Group (NSG) and affects the Cymru Premier, North and South divisions and the Welsh Premier Women’s League.

A further decision will be made on the sides in the Cymru Premier that are fully professional.

The rescinding of the elite status level is for an indefinite time period.

The decision was made after Wales entered a tier four lockdown.

In the ‘firebreak’ lockdown in Wales in October and November, domestic professional sports teams were allowed to continue playing.

Former champions The New Saints are fully professional, while title holders Connah’s Quay Nomads, Bala Town and Haverfordwest also met the criteria.

Welsh Premier Women’s League (WPWL) organisers decided to postpone Port Talbot Town’s home game against Abergavenny WFC over Covid-19 fears at the weekend.

The Cymru North and South were given elite status in November, while the top divisions were given permission to resume in August.

Football Association of Wales (FAW) chief executive Jonathan Ford has warned football in

Wales is battling a “dire situation” because of coronavirus.

Ford says the FAW is facing a “massive” financial loss as a result of the pandemic.

Wales are set to face Mexico in an international friendly at Cardiff City Stadium on March

27.

It will be the first home clash of 2021 for the Red Dragons, and will also be the first time the two sides have met on Welsh soil.

The fixture will follow on from a tough trip to face a Belgium side ranked number one in the world on March 24 - their first game of the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Wales then round off a springtime triple-header with another qualifying clash at home to the Czech Republic on March 30.

As things stand, all three fixtures are set to be played behind closed doors due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

This will be the fifth meeting with the Mexicans for Wales, with the last clash coming in May 2018 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.

On that occasion the two sides played out a 0-0 draw, with the game serving as part of Mexico’s preparations for the 2018 World Cup.