BFA suspends season due to Covid-19
The Bermuda Football Association has suspended all football on the island due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.
The announcement arrived on the same evening as Bermuda confirmed its first cases of coronavirus and three days before the final round of the domestic league season on Sunday.
In a statement released last night, the BFA said its Executive Council would reassess the status of the global pandemic on March 31.
“The Bermuda Football Association is very much cognizant of the current situation involving Covid-19 and the impact on our communities and the actions needed to address the spread of the virus,” the statement read.
“During its monthly meeting, the Executive Council committed to suspend all football inclusive of youth, senior and national academy/teams matches and activities.
“In the interim, the Competition Committee will draft plans to address the remainder of the 2019/20 season.
“The Bermuda Football Association recognises its role in the community and understands the importance of football in the lives of many people. However, we stand in solidarity with all responsible organisations in helping to reduce the spread of the virus by suspending football while the situation is being addressed.”
Organisers of the Corona League made the decision on Tuesday to postpone the rest of its season “until it is deemed safe to resume”.
Elite football in Britain was suspended last Friday until at least April 3 as a result of the spread of coronavirus, while the National League suspended fixtures in its three non-League divisions on Monday.
Meanwhile, Bermuda will have to wait a little longer before their 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup second-round qualifying opponents are confirmed because of the spread of Covid-19.
They will face the winners of the first-round qualifier between Bahamas and French Guiana in a home-and-away series in June for a place at the Gold Cup.
Bahamas and French Guiana were scheduled to play each other on March 31. However, that match has been postponed after Concacaf made the decision to suspend all upcoming competitions scheduled to take place over the next 30 days.
“Concacaf have postponed a list of meetings and competitions which include the first round of Gold Cup qualifying,” Mark Wade, the BFA president, said. “We are on hold until Concacaf advise what the plan is for all competitions and meetings.”