MLS suspends season for 30 days over novel coronavirus concerns

UPDATE, 12:11 p.m: Concacaf has announced that all Concacaf Champions League matches have been suspended “with immediate effect.”

Following the NBA’s decision to suspend the season Wednesday night, Major League Soccer has followed suit and will suspend the 2020 season with immediate effect for an initial 30 day period.

The writing was on the wall after a historic day of disruption in the sports world Wednesday. Prior to the NBA suspending its season after one of its players, Rudy Gobert, tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19, the NCAA closed its doors to fans for every game of both the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. Numerous other sporting and cultural events had been canceled in the preceding days as the threat of the virus became imminent.

United States President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that travel between the U.S. and Europe would be banned for 30 days starting Friday to combat the pandemic. Some of the league’s European players may want to return to their home nations before the restrictions are enacted. While the duration of the league’s suspension of play is indefinite, it’s almost certain to last the duration of the 30-day travel restriction.