Editorial: Cancel the Season

With Florida seeing another record single-day increase in COVID-19 cases on Saturday, two MLS teams have already withdrawn from the tournament, and Sunday’s Toronto FC v DC United match postponed. It’s increasingly apparent that the whole tournament and all American soccer in 2020 should be canceled.

With one positive test, the NBA shut down its season. Since launching the supposedly safe bubble at Walt Disney World, 20 players and staff have tested positive. If one was bad enough before, why is 20 not bad enough now?

FC Dallas and Nashville SC made the trip to Orlando and very quickly saw their numbers rise. While MLS claims that the infections happened outside of the bubble, it seems evident that the players would have had contact with people in the bubble. The two teams may have left, but no doubt, the staff at the Swan and Dolphin Hotels that interacted with these players are still in the bubble.

The players and staff are not safe, that’s not even mentioning the hard-working staff of Walt Disney World and the Swan and Dolphin Hotels (which aren’t owned by Disney). They were also exposed to the virus.

That doesn’t even mention the ethical dilemma of MLS having access to on-demand and instant testing while surrounded by a community that is running low on tests and hospital beds.

Needing to get a COVID-19 test throughout Florida requires appointments. As I currently need a test in Tampa, I can reveal that the quickest time someone can get a test through Hillsborough County’s testing is July 23^rd, 11 days away. That timing doesn’t even include waiting for results, which could take another week or two.

Healthcare workers in Hillsborough County have waited over nine days to get results from a COVID-19 test and are still waiting. Meanwhile, MLS players can have ten tests and results in that time.

While MLS is undoubtedly using a private testing company, these tests could otherwise have been used for the general population of Florida, where there aren’t enough tests.

Major League Soccer is placing its players, referees, and staff in danger to host what is essentially a meaningless Mickey Mouse tournament. While doing this, they are also doing a great disservice to the people of Florida. The competition should be canceled so players can go back to their homes safely. The tests can be distributed to the counties in Florida that desperately need them.

Cancel the season.

Photo Courtesy: Major League Soccer