India suspends domestic football

Published March 15, 2020
GOA: Empty enclosures are pictured amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus before the start of the Indian Super League final between Chennaiyin FC and ATK FC on Saturday.—AFP
GOA: Empty enclosures are pictured amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus before the start of the Indian Super League final between Chennaiyin FC and ATK FC on Saturday.—AFP

NEW DELHI: India suspended domestic football until the end of this month after domestic cricket was put on hold indefinitely due to the coronavirus on Saturday.

The All India Football Federation said in a statement that, following Ministry of Health and state government-level advice, “all footballing activities under the aegis of AIFF stay suspended till March 31”.

“The AIFF will take a stock of the situation in the last week of March, and take a decision abiding by directives from relevant authorities at that juncture,” it added.

All I-League matches have also been suspended but the final of the franchise-based Indian Super League was due to go ahead without spectators in Goa later on Saturday.

The outbreak has already cost India its only European Tour golf event, a shooting World Cup and a BWF Super 500 badminton tournament.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2020

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