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    MLS Suspends Season for 30 Days Effective Immediately Amid Coronavirus

    Gill Clark@@gillclarkyFeatured Columnist IIMarch 12, 2020

    The new Major League Soccer (MLS) logo is pictured during an unveiling event in New York on September 18, 2014. MLS unveiled the new logo ahead of its 20th season. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)
    JEWEL SAMAD/Getty Images

    Major League Soccer announced Thursday the 2020 season has been suspended for 30 days because of the coronavirus outbreak:

    Major League Soccer @MLS

    Major League Soccer Suspends Season for 30 Days https://t.co/P0HEPmsnkx

    The decision follows Wednesday's announcement that the NBA season has been suspended. President Donald Trump has also imposed a ban on incoming travel from 26 European countries.

    La Liga also confirmed Thursday that football in Spain's top two tiers has be suspended for a minimum of two weeks.

    The UEFA Champions League and Europa League are also set to be suspended until further notice, according to German Bona of Sport.

    Europe's governing body has confirmed a meeting set for Tuesday to discuss the response to the outbreak and all "all domestic and European competitions:"

    UEFA @UEFA

    In the light of ongoing developments in the spread of Covid-19, UEFA has invited various stakeholders to discuss European football’s response to the outbreak. Discussions will include all domestic and European competitions, including UEFA EURO 2020. Full statement: 👇

    UEFA has already confirmed that Manchester City's Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid and Juventus' fixture with Lyon have been postponed:

    UEFA @UEFA

    Following the quarantine imposed on players of Juventus and Real Madrid, the following #UCL matches will not take place as scheduled. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Manchester City – Real Madrid 🇪🇸 🇮🇹 Juventus – Olympique Lyonnais 🇫🇷 Further decisions on the matches will be communicated in due course.

    Juventus confirmed Wednesday that defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive for the coronavirus.

    MLS Suspends Season for 30 Days Effective Immediately Amid Coronavirus
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    Meanwhile, Real Madrid have announced their squad has been placed in quarantine after a member of the club's basketball team—which shares facilities with the football club—tested positive for the virus.

    L'Equipe (h/t Get French Football News) has reported UEFA will announce all leagues and European competition will be suspended and Euro 2020 will be moved to next year.

    International football has also been affected. South American governing body CONMEBOL has asked FIFA to suspend March's 2020 World Cup qualifiers, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).

    All U.S. men's national team and U.S. women's national team games scheduled for March and April have also been called off:

    U.S. Soccer @ussoccer

    Due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, U.S. Soccer has canceled the upcoming #USMNT & #USWNT games in March & April, and the majority of #USYNT and Extended National Team matches and camps that were planned through the end of April.

    The Premier League remains one of the few high-profile competitions yet to be halted but has still been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

    Arsenal's clash with Manchester City on Wednesday was called off after some players came into contact with Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, who has contracted the virus.

    Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has also confirmed three of his players have displayed symptoms and been isolated from the rest of the squad.