WARSAW, March 13 -- The Polish league Ekstraklasa has been suspended until at least April due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Polish Football Federation (PZPN) announced on Friday.
The PZPN said on Thursday that there would not be any changes in the league fixtures, which triggered protests of the clubs and players.
Gornik Zabrze refused on Friday to go to Lodz for a match against LKS and explained in a statement that "playing on the road is too risky", while former Borussia Dortmund star Jakub Blaszczykowski, who currently plays for Wisla Krakow, wrote an open letter to the federation and league authorities to ask for postponing the matches.
"After many conversations with fellow players and representatives of all Polish football competitions, I am asking the authorities with all the managers of our sport in Poland to think over the last decisions related to the continuation of the games of the highest football leagues," wrote Blaszczykowski.
The PZPN and Ekstraklasa then changed their decision on Friday to suspend the competition until at least April.
"Over the past 24 hours, we have conducted a number of consultations with PZPN and other leagues that have also decided to postpone matches. The probable date of competition's resumption will be determined by the current situation related to the spreading coronavirus or UEFA decisions regarding the rescheduling of individual international competitions," said Ekstraklasa president Marcin Animucki via the league's official site.
"I assure you that PZPN has no interest in continuing the game. We wanted to make thoughtful decisions with the clubs. I hope these clubs will not cry after ten or twenty days that they would like to come back to the pitch even when situation will not be better," commented PZPN president, Zbigniew Boniek.
Poland has been scheduled to play a friendly game against Finland on March 27, while the match against Ukraine is scheduled for March 31, but both encounters may be canceled due to the Coronavirus.
"We haven't made final decisions yet. We are waiting for UEFA's reaction," PZPN vice-president Marek Kozminski was quoted as saying by Polish media.
Serving farm-fresh meals -- at the farm
Improving 'feed efficiency' in cattle
Condition of oceans affects human health
Can you 'think and grow rich?'
Celebrities support US presidential candidates
Mae West, the wild woman of film and stage
Puberty lessons for African girls may raise attendance
Words and their stories: state nicknames, part 1
Power still out for many in New York city
Ukraine feminists campaign against sex tourism(视频)
'Gangnam Style' boosts S.Korean tourism
Obama victory driven by economy, turnout
Psychologist tells inspiring story of his giant uncle
Obama, Romney head to key states on election eve
Edwin Hubble changed our ideas about the universe
DC dinosaur hunter; New family movies
Remote US museum survives in Hells Canyon
World Prematurity Day aims to lower rates of premature births
US 'patriotic millionaires': 'tax us more'
Gold seekers once rushed to Canada’s northwest
Relations between Britain and its American colonies
The business of learning mandarin
New medical tape reduces pain for newborns, older adults
Hurricane Sandy reignites climate change debate
Words and their stories: down to earth
Gas shortages test patience of motorists following Sandy
Experts work to develop better tools to predict severe weather
Obama, House Speaker take positions on budget before negotiations
After Sandy, Wall Street closed for 2nd day
Russian Prime Minister calls for ban on smoking in public