Grassroots football around the country has today officially been postponed in response to the spread of Coronavirus. It means the new NPL and WSL seasons that were slated to start this weekend will no longer be kicking off and that they could look very different when and if they do get underway.
FFA announced the postponement of all football till April 14 but given global trends a further postponement would seem likely.
FFA CEO James Johnson delivered the announcement stating,
"FFA today convened a meeting of the National COVID-19 Working Committee and the Presidents of the State Body Members to further discuss football’s response to COVID-19. After careful consideration and having regard to the feedback received from the grassroots community, FFA advises that effective from 12:00am on 18 March 2020, all sanctioned grassroots football activity in Australia will be suspended until 14 April 2020.
The suspension applies to all sanctioned matches and competitions, including National Premier Leagues, FFA Cup, youth and grassroots football (including MiniRoos and futsal) as well as training and associated football related activities."
FFA’s full formal statement in relation to the decision to postpone all football activity for a period of 4 weeks can viewed by following this link.
Football Tasmania CEO, Matt Bulkeley said that FT would do everything it could to ensure a maximum amount of football is played in 2020, provided it was safe to do so."I’d like to reassure our football community that Football Tasmania will do everything possible to maximise the amount of football that is played in 2020, notwithstanding the uncertainty around the impact of the Coronavirus and at all times adhering to the advice of experts in relation to this. This will obviously require some flexibility and adaptability from all of us, including from our local councils, where longer than usual access to grounds may be necessary. We will work closely with all clubs and associations in this regard."
What impact this will have on the local top divisions remains to be seen, with the duration of the postponement set to dictate what those competitions will look like. It's certainly not a case of the season being over before it begins yet, with condensed rosters, shortened seasons, and summer football all possibilities once it is declared safe to resume.