PREFACE: There is an ever growing likelihood that if leagues resume around the world, it will be behind closed doors and/or neutral venues. Where does each league stand. Here’s what we know.
MLS: On Tuesday, the league released a statement saying it is “extremely unlikely” that play will resume in May. MLS also said in the statement that their goal is to play as many games as possible. While a full season is still possible, they recognize it may become difficult to do so.
On Monday, MLS commissioner Don Garber told ESPN’s Taylor Twellman that the league was exploring various formats.
”From tournament formats and neutral locations, ultimately playing an abridged regular season, but doing everything to get as many games,” said Garber. Garber added that if play does resume, games would mostly be played behind closed doors in what he dubbed “MLS Studio” games.
NWSL: The NWSL has extended its training moratorium until May 5th. The question is soon to become how much of a schedule can they play. The league is targeting starting at the end of June. This coming weekend was supposed to be the start of the NWSL’s eighth season.
SCOTLAND: Clubs in Scotland’s lower divisions have voted to end the season. The deciding vote came after Dundee reversed its vote against ending the season. It follows that Dundee United were declared champions of the SPFL Championship while Partick Thistle is relegated to League One. Up from League One goes Raith Rovers while Stranraer go down to League Two. Cove Rangers are promoted to League One.
The SPFL now has the power to end the top-flight campaign should it deem it impossible to play the outstanding fixtures.
However, the league says it is “committed to consulting” with the Premiership clubs before doing so.
A total of 81% of Scotland’s 42 senior clubs have backed the resolution, which means end-of-season payments can be made to the lower-league sides by the end of this week. Celtic currently have a 13-point lead over Rangers with eight matches to play in their quest for a ninth straight title. Hearts currently sit bottom of the Scottish Premiership.
BUNDESLIGA: Champions Bayern Munich were among a number of Bundesliga teams to resume work on the training ground, albeit with precautionary measures in place, such as working in groups of five, with contact.
Germany has carried out more diagnostic swab tests, to establish whether an individual is infected with the virus, than other major European countries. On Tuesday, the nation saw its smallest rise in coronavirus cases for more than three weeks, following four days of decline in new infections.
LA LIGA: The best-case scenario for La Liga to resume is on May 28th according ot its president Javier Tebas. Tebas also says that training will not resume until emergency measures are lifted. They are currently set to expire on April 26th.
Spain have seen new infections begin to decline and has gradually ease strict lockdown measures though the majority of the population must still stay at home.
SERIE A: Italy’s lockdown remains in place until May 3rd. The Italian Football Federation hopes to begin testing players in May in hopes of resuming with 12 rounds to play. Brescia’s president Massimo Cellino has said his team—currently bottom of Serie A—is ready to forfeit games if play resumes.
COVID-19 LATEST: At the time of this reporting, there have been over two million confirmed cases in 185 countries and regions. Over 134,000 people have died while there have been over 511,000 recoveries reported recoveries according to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard.
The USA has reported 637,359 cases with over 28,000 deaths and over 52,000 recoveries. Canada has reported 28,253 cases with 1,010 deaths and 8,966 reported recoveries.
We at Prost Amerika and Prost International strongly recommend that you follow instructions from the appropriate health authorities in order to slow the spread of the virus. The sooner all obey such guidelines, then the sooner we can all enjoy soccer again.
