Cyprus follows suit and suspends footballing operations through March
The Cyprus Football Association suspended all footballing operations through the end of March.
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The Cyprus Football Association (CFA) released a statement announcing the suspension of operations for the remainder of March due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cyprus was the last country in Europe to produce a positive case of the virus, and the original plan was to play Week 2 of the playoff group and relegation group behind closed doors.
The CFA released the following statement:
“The Cyprus Football Association, under the framework of preventative measures to counter the spread of the coronavirus, and assessing the data which is constantly changing, and following a recommendation from the President Giorgos Koumas, has decided to immediately suspend all of its football operations, of all ages, and all categories.
The final decision was made in consultation with UEFA, as well as state authorities and after an emergency meeting of the CFA Board of Directors.
The priority of the Cyprus Football Association is the health of all of our players, as well as all those who are involved in football, and it is in this respect that we made this decision.
This decision to suspend all football activities applies through the end of March. The situation is being monitored constantly and will be re-evaluated whenever necessary.
We appeal to all of our member clubs to limit training and all other activities. We are confident that with responsibility and seriousness, and following the government’s planning and guidance, our society will emerge victorious from this adventure.”
With this announcement, Cyprus joins the rest of the sporting world which has come to a grinding halt in the wake of this pandemic. Sports across Europe including the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League are also on hold, with rumors rampant about postponing even UEFA Euro 2020, slated for this summer.
Even in North America where there is much money in pro sports, leagues such as the NBA and NHL have suspended operations. Now in Cyprus, they too will wait for life to return to normal.
