All domestic football in Wales has been called off until 4 April 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak, including Wales’ friendly international against Austria at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium later this month.
The news follows yesterday’s announcement that the Dragons’ friendly against the United States on 30 March had been called off.
Ryan Giggs’ men were due to face Austria at Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium on Friday, 27 March, and the US at Cardiff City Stadium three days later, but the FAW has now confirmed the clash with Austria, as with the US game, will no longer take place.
A statement from the FAW read: “Today, the FAW can announce that the upcoming match between Wales and Austria on 27 March 2020 at the Liberty Stadium has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak.”
Refunds for both friendlies will be processed over the next 14 working days and will be returned to customers via the method of payment for the original booking. For those who purchased via cash or cheque, they will be refunded via bank transfer. Card refunds will be processed back to the credit or debit card used for the booking.
But the cancellations go much deeper than Wales’ Euro 2020 preparations, with all domestic football also shelved until 4 April at the earliest.
In a statement the FAW said it would continue to monitor the situation on a day-by-day basis with the intention of resuming the football schedule depending on the medical advice and conditions from the relevant authorities.
“The Football Association of Wales has today taken the decision to suspend domestic football at all levels in Wales with immediate effect until 4 April due to the Covid-19 outbreak,” the FAW statement said.
“The intention at this time will be to resume the football schedule depending on the medical advice and conditions from the relevant authorities at that time.
“The FAW is fully aware of the impact this will have on the domestic game but the health and safety of all fans, players, volunteers and stakeholders are of paramount importance.
“The FAW will continue to monitor this situation on a day-by-day basis and will continue to provide updates when appropriate.”
This means all action in the Cymru Premier, Cymru North, Cymru South, Welsh Premier Women’s League and regional leagues will be suspended in accordance with these guidelines. The FAW has also called off the international challenge match between Wales C and England C scheduled for 24 March.
The FAW action follows on from the cancellation of all Premier League and EFL matches until 3 April, including the Women’s Super League, Women’s Championship and all academy and youth fixtures.
The EFL had announced yesterday that the upcoming round of fixtures was due to go ahead as planned, but a number of significant cases in the aftermath forced a rethink of that decision with Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta and Chelsea midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi among those confirmed to have tested positive for Covid-19.
Swansea City were due to face Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium tomorrow, while Cardiff City were scheduled to host Leeds United in the Welsh capital on Sunday.
Officials have confirmed the situation will be reviewed in due course, with no Premier League, Championship, League One or League Two matches taking place until 4 April at the earliest.
However games in the English National League are still scheduled to go ahead this weekend, with the league’s board deciding to allow matches in its three divisions to proceed as planned. So at the moment Wrexham’s trip to face Barrow at Holker Street remains on.
A National League statement says it will keep the “operation of its competition under constant and diligent review, and will remain in compliance with government advice at all times”.
“The Football Association has offered its guidance, and made it clear the decision to continue or to suspend a competition is a matter for each league to make,” the statement said. “The National League places the welfare and well-being of all those involved in and connected to its competition as the highest priority. All clubs and supporters are encouraged to stay up to date with the latest public health advice.”
In Scotland, the SPFL has suspended the season until further notice. Chief executive Neil Doncaster said it was “neither realistic nor possible” to continue with matches.
The postponements begin with tonight’s Premiership match between Motherwell and Aberdeen, and Queen of the South against Ayr United in the Championship. Sunday’s Old Firm derby at Ibrox will also not be played.
The decision means all domestic professional and grassroots football under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA will be suspended, which includes the Scottish Women’s Premier League.
The Irish FA has also called off all matches until 4 April. “We expect games to restart on Saturday, 4 April 2020,” the IFA said. “The matter will be kept under constant review. This means no affiliated football will be played in Northern Ireland until that time.”
And with football associations across Europe also suspending programmes, the Covid-19 outbreak now presents a real threat to this summer’s Euro 2020 finals being played at venues across the continent. Uefa is meeting on Tuesday to discuss its response to the outbreak, when discussions will cover all domestic and European competitions, including Euro 2020.
