USL Championship suspends season for 30 days

Like the first team, the Philadelphia Union II will have the next 30 days off as a precaution in response to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.

The USL Championship announced the decision on Thursday after MLS made a similar announcement.

“It was very clear from our owners that the health and safety of players, fans and staff was their top priority,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said in a news release. “In consultation with local, state and national health authorities, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security, we have temporarily suspended match play for a minimum of 30 days.”

The Union II have three games during the 30-day window, including one at home against Atlanta United 2 on April 3. Their road games against North Carolina FC Saturday and Charleston Battery on March 28 are both postponed.

The Union II’s 2020 season began last Saturday with a scoreless draw against Loudoun United at Subaru Park.

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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