This archive report was first published on 23 April 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, Australia's top soccer league, the A-League, remains in limbo. The league was one of the last competitions in the world still playing when it was suspended in late March.
According to the Football Federation Australia (FFA), the league will meet again next month to discuss the resumption of competition. However, a return to training is unlikely before the end of May, as the FFA prioritizes player and staff health.
"We will resume play as soon as possible, and the first stage would see the players return to training. We would then schedule matches," said FFA chief executive James Johnson.
Johnson emphasized that the league is balancing its efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 with supporting the social and mental wellbeing of the Australian football family and all sports-loving Australians.
With more than 6,600 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Australia and 75 deaths, the country's virus shutdown measures remain in place. However, the rate of new cases has slowed in recent weeks, raising hopes of a gradual easing of restrictions.
Published on April 23, 2020 by AFP.
