Statement from the Board of the Isthmian League
Following statements from the UK Government yesterday as well as statements from The Football Association, the Leagues forming Steps one to four of the National League System with representatives of Steps five and six met by conference call and decided that all matches be suspended until April 3rd.
The Isthmian League Board also met yesterday by video conference and agreed that all matches, including the Development League, the Youth League and Cup, The Women’s Cup and the Velocity Trophy be suspended until that date.
The likelihood is that matches will not start again on Saturday 4th April, and in the meantime the League will work with all others in the game to ensure that Clubs are kept up to date with the latest information.
It cannot be stressed too much that these are unprecedented times. The Board will do what it can to ensure that football can recommence as soon as possible, and that the League does not put more pressure on Clubs financially while the future is unknown.
N.R Robinson
Chairman of The Isthmian Football League
The Cold End is encouraged to read that the Chinese Super League could kick off it's new season as early as Saturday 18th April. The league was due to start on Saturday 22nd February but due to the outbreak of Coronavirus in the country an announcement was made in January the start date would be delayed.
Many of the teams were spending pre-season overseas at the time and then many others followed when the Coronavirus issue became more serious and widespread.
There is an extra hurdle in the way to the start of preparations to kick off the league season as any player, member of staff or official arriving back in China must be quarantined for 14 days on arrival so a period of self-isolation awaits before the season can begin.
Reading this information will hopefully give some encouragement to fans around the world already missing their football team in action.
"Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao" have dominated the league since 2011 winning eight of the nine titles - In 2018 they were runner's up to Shanghai SIPG. "Qingdao Huanghai" and "Shijiazhuang Ever Bright" are the newly promoted sides in the top league. It will be first season in the top division for "Qingdao Huanghai" who were formed in 2013.
Beijing Sinobo Guoan
Chongqing Dangdai Lifan
Dalian Pro
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
Guangzhou R&F
Hebei China Fortune
Henan Jianye
Jiangsu Suning
Qingdao Huanghai
Shandong Luneng Taishan
Shanghai Greenland Shenhua
Shanghai SIPG
Shijiazhuang Ever Bright
Tianjin TEDA
Tianjin Tianhai
Wuhan Zall
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