Suspension of Football SA Competitions
16 March 2020
In considering the COVID-19 impact on the football community across Australia, Football South Australia notes that our sport’s national governing body, Football Federation Australia (FFA) today issued FFA Circular 20-05, which provides an update on the latest COVID-19 developments as well as Guidelines for participants to follow when participating in football activities.
The guidelines are applicable to all levels of the game, including for grassroots football and all levels of the National Premier Leagues and FFA Cup Preliminary Rounds and include measures in relation to hygiene and appropriate social distancing measures designed to assist, protect and reduce infection or transmission risks for the 1.96 million members of Australia’s football community.
Football South Australia supports those national guidelines and encourages all participants in South Australia to adhere to them, including in particular the need for only essential participants to attend football activities at this time; a position that extends beyond the Federal Government’s current ban on mass gatherings of 500 persons or more.
Football South Australia also notes that FFA Circular 20-05 acknowledges that each Competition Administrators will also need to consider and respond to local factors and circumstances.
Having considered FFA Circular 20-05 and the latest advice from the Federal Government, Football South Australia advises all clubs and associations that, effective immediately, it is suspending all scheduled fixtures in the following Football South Australia administered competitions for a period of 14 days.
1. National Premier League Senior, Reserves and Under 18
2. Women’s National Premier League Senior and Reserves
3. FFA Cup Preliminary Round One
4. State League 1 & 2 Senior, Reserves and Under 18
5. Women’s Division 1-6
6. Junior Premier and State League
7. Mini Roos Competitions and Gala Days
This decision has taken into account the impact of the playing matches behind closed doors, the availability of teams, officials, volunteers as well as feedback and input from players, parents and club and association officials in relation to what is appropriate for their respective broader football community.
In addition, it is the recommendation of Football SA that all clubs’ and associations’ training should also be suspended for this period of time.
Football South Australia intends to use the period of suspension to further consult with its clubs and associations, health experts, government and the FFA’s national framework.
Please be advised that at this point in time above competitions are suspended and not cancelled. We will consider potential options to reactivate our competitions, including reformatting or extending scheduled seasons as we are better informed and placed to make those decisions.
Football South Australia will keep all stakeholders informed of further developments.
[ENDS]