UEFA suspends 2019/20 Champions League final amid COVID-19 pandemic

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – European football’s governing body UEFA announced on Monday the suspension of the 2019/20 Champions League final due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The prestigious final was meant to be played on May 30 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in the Turkish capital of Istanbul. However, as the coronavirus sweeps across Europe, UEFA has decided to cancel the event.

The UEFA Women’s Champions League final and the Europa League final have also been postponed. Both were scheduled to be played in May as well.

In a statement, UEFA noted that “no decision has yet been made on rearranged dates” for the affected finals.

It added that a “working group…will analyze the options available” as it has started to examine the calendar. “Announcements will be made in due course,” the statement concluded.

The outbreak of the coronavirus has forced the postponement and suspension of several sporting events around the world.

Last week, UEFA announced that Euro 2020 would be postponed until 2021.

Other sports leagues like the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States were one of the first to react to the coronavirus crisis by suspending its season.

In Iraq, the country’s football association decided to suspend the 2019/20 Iraqi Premier League, weeks after it was resumed following calm amid anti-government protests.

The Kurdistan Region’s Erbil Sport Club is the only remaining Kurdish club competing in the competition following Zakho Sport Club’s withdrawal from the league.