Canada Soccer announces suspension of all sanctioned soccer as precaution against COVID-19
Canada Soccer has suspended all sanctioned soccer activities with immediate effect after consultation with the Canada Soccer Sport Medicine Committee, public health authorities and the Provincial and Territorial Member Associations. The Canada Soccer decision impacts all domestic soccer activity as well as National Teams across all age groups with the decision crucial to ensure the safety of our players, coaches, officials, staff and fans.
“Given the extraordinary nature of the rapidly evolving COVID-19
situation and after close dialogue with our membership and public health
authorities, Canada Soccer has taken the necessary decision to suspend
all domestic soccer activity as well as National
Team programming to ensure the well being of all involved,” said Steven
Reed, Canada Soccer President.
Canada Soccer previously announced the cancellation of upcoming home
matches for both the Men’s and Women’s National Teams scheduled for
British Columbia on March 27 and 31 on Vancouver Island and April 14 in
Vancouver respectively. The 2020 Canada Soccer Futsal
Canadian Championship scheduled for April 2-4 in Kingston, Ontario is
also cancelled and will be held in Spring 2021. In addition, no other
National Team programming either domestically or abroad including Para
and Futsal will take place until further notice.
The U23 Men’s National Team scheduled to play in the Concacaf Olympic
Qualifiers later this month in Mexico will await direction from Concacaf
on the qualification process given the official postponement of the
competition.
The Canada Soccer Super REX Centre in Markham has also been closed effective immediately.
All coaching courses and any referee programming has been postponed until at least the end of April and no in person Board or Committee meetings will be held. Travel approvals for all professional and amateur teams will be rescinded until further notice with no travel permitted for teams outside of Canada. In addition, any team that is already out of the country will be required to adhere to the quarantine regulations of their respective provinces or territories as well as the Government of Canada.
“As part of our ongoing responsibilities, the Canada Soccer Medical Committee has been monitoring the COVID-19 situation with public health authorities to provide direction for all Canada Soccer programs and events,” said Dr. Andrew Pipe, Chair, Canada Soccer Medicine Committee. “In order to protect the safety of our participants and contribute to the global effort to curb the spread of the disease, the suspension of all soccer activity for the foreseeable future is crucial.”
Canada Soccer has been and will continue to closely monitor all COVID-19 developments in consultation with all public health authorities and relevant governing bodies and provide updates.
| MEDIA CONTACTS CONTACTS MÉDIAS |
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Brad Fougere
Corporate Communications | Communications corporatives bfougere@canadasoccer.com m. +1 613.299.1587 |
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Richard Scott National Teams Program | Programme de l’équipe nationale rscott@canadasoccer.com m. +1 613.818.0305 |