Football’s governing body FIFA has been put in the spotlight amid the outbreak of the Coronavirus as many football events are wiped out due to the spread of the virus in countries around the world.

FIFA’s leadership is needed more than ever in this time of crisis and must give direction of how the calendar will be restructured. But still FIFA has also seen it’s Congress delayed due to the pandemic.

On Wednesday 11 March, FIFA announced that it had no option but to delay its Congress scheduled for 20 March, 2020.

“On account of the spread of COVID-19, numerous international bodies and public health authorities have advised against the organisation of international events.

“Concerns over the health and well-being of participants, as well as travel restrictions in many countries, have resulted in the cancellation or postponement of many such events in various parts of the world.

“Mindful of this, and given the wish of FIFA to organise a Congress which all member associations are able to attend, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to reschedule the 70th FIFA Congress from Friday 5 June 2020 to Friday 18 September 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“In addition, the FIFA Council meeting planned for Friday 20 March 2020 has also been rescheduled to a date yet to be confirmed in June-July 2020 at the Home of FIFA in Zurich or via video conference.”