Major League Soccer has extended the moratorium on matches until at least June 8, the league said in a statement released Friday. League play has been suspended since March 12 due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the league stated it is in discussions with the MLS Players Association regarding player compensation due to the significant financial impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the league and its clubs, as first reported by ESPN.com.
On March 19, MLS stated that it was extending its suspension for eight weeks, in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), setting a target return date of May 10. On April 14, MLS announced a resumption of play in mid-May was extremely unlikely.
Read the full statement from MLS:
MLS remains focused on exploring a wide variety of formats for playing the entire 2020 season including pushing back MLS Cup into December or later. Based on the most recent government guidance, we have extended the moratorium on matches until at least June 8. Like all Leagues, we are in discussion with our players about changes to player compensation due to the financial impact on the league and our clubs from the COVID-19 Crisis. We are seeking to work collaboratively with the MLSPA to find a solution that provides a safety net for all players, opportunity to earn full salary in the scenario where all matches are played with fans, and in particular provides protection for the players at the lower end of the salary scale.
