The league will remain shut down for many weeks, although players can travel by automobile on a case-by-case foundation.
MLS has declared that the league has extended the group training moratorium in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak, although that expansion did include reduced limitations on player movement.
The league announced on March 12 that the league would be frozen to fight the spread of this pandemic, linking leagues all around the world in postponing or cancelling matches on account of the coronavirus.
MLS has since confirmed that the league has expanded its first suspension, with the league targeting a return date of May 10.
But that date is appearing more and more improbable, as communities throughout the U.S., and all around the world, work to handle the virus through self-isolation.
On Wednesday, the league once more took steps to maintain teams apart, with the league announcing that teams won’t train until April 4 at the earliest.
But after previously insisting that players remain within their regional markets, the league said Wednesday that players may travel by car if accepted by the league on a case-by-case foundation.
“Major League Soccer has expanded the group training moratorium through, and including, Friday, April 3,” the league said in a statement,”MLS training centers remain closed to all staff and players with the exception of players needing medical treatment or rehabilitation, under the management of the group medical staff, that can’t be performed from the protection of their residence.
‘While MLS players are expected to stay in each club’s respective market, MLS will review individual requests by players to relocate to a different market by car, taking into consideration the totality of a participant’s situation.
“MLS will stay in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) with this evolving situation and provide additional updates as they become available.”
MLS commissioner Don Garber said on Tuesday that he’s optimistic that MLS can still squeeze a complete schedule after a three or four-week training camp when the spread of the virus is controlled.
Because of this, the league could play well into December, much as it has in prior years prior to moving MLS Cup to November in 2019.
