A-League postponed as Australian sport grinds to a halt due to Covid-19

The A-League season has been postponed, bringing all top-level sport in Australia to a halt as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Football Federation Australia announced on Tuesday morning the competition would be put on hold for the foreseeable future with the “heartbreaking” decision to be reviewed on 22 April. It remains FFA’s intention to play out the remainder of the season at some time.

“Our priority is to ensure the safety of both the football community and the community at large,” FFA CEO James Johnson said.

“As each passing day raises additional concerns for the safety of both, it is imperative that we follow the lead of governments at national and state level and take the necessary precautionary and proactive measures and in doing so play our part in preventing the spread and impact of Covid-19.

“To get so close to completing the competition, only to pull up a few weeks short, has been heartbreaking for the players, clubs and fans. That said, the health and safety of our fans, players, volunteers and staff has always been the overriding consideration for us.

“That is fundamentally what led – with the unanimous support of the state and territory member federations – to the suspension of grassroots football until 14 April 2020. Today’s decision was equally difficult to make but it is borne form the same rationale.

“As the largest club-based participation sport with nearly two million participants, we have a clear and obvious duty to play our part in doing whatever we can to support the efforts to slow down the spread of Covid-19.”

Monday night’s game between Newcastle and Melbourne City, won 1-0 by the Jets, proved to be the last for the time being, despite FFA’s hopes of playing out a condensed version of the season.

The A-League was one of few major sporting competitions globally still running at the beginning of the week, but the federal government’s advice on Monday against all non-essential travel within Australia effectively made the continuation of the season untenable.

The decision follows that of the NRL on Monday to suspend its season indefinitely, while the AFL had put its men’s competition on hold a day previously and cancelled outright the AFLW season.

The W-League season was able to be completed over the weekend, with Melbourne City crowned champions after the grand final was played in an empty stadium.

More to follow.

source: theguardian.com