Coronavirus forces football leagues to alter seasons

ANKARA

A growing number of countries decided to cancel domestic football matches Thursday as the coronavirus continues to spread across the globe.

Top-tier U.S. football league Major League Soccer (MLS) said it stopped matches as it evaluates the situation with health officials.

"Major League Soccer has suspended match play for 30 days, effective immediately, as the league continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 with its medical task force and public health officials," the league said.

Two top football leagues in the Netherlands, Eredivisie and Keuken Kampioen Divisie, canceled matches until March 31.

Portugal’s Primeira Liga was suspended indefinitely.

And Spain's and Italy’s football leagues also suspended matches because of spread of the COVID-19 in those countries.