While season cancellations grab ahold of sports leagues across the world, women’s football in Mexico is taking a major hit.
Liga MX Femenil had reached the middle of its 2020 Clausura season when play suspended due to COVID-19.
The season remained in limbo for more than two months. Then on May 22, the Mexican Football Federation canceled both its men’s and women’s leagues.
This has left a number of players with expiring contracts without a team.
As clubs adapt financially, they must figure out how to deal with this issue.
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June is usually a month full of player movement because the Apertura season begins in July. However, this time around, the departures are not balanced out by arrivals. El Universal reports that at least 70 players are now out of contract.
“The pandemic is coming and the casualties are impressive. Many of us are looking for a team and we are going to find it difficult,” said Nancy Zaragoza, who recently parted ways with C.F. Monterrey.
Of the 18 teams in Liga MX Femenil, Club América has had the most departures so far. The Mexico City-based club has seen 14 players part ways, while its men’s team considers no incoming transfers.
Monarcas Players Left Out
Players from Monarcas Morelia Femenil are experiencing an added uncertainty.
On June 2, the club announced it will move to Mazatlán, Sinaloa for the 2020 Apertura season.
Senior men’s team players learned of the move a day before the announcement. But the women’s team was not notified by the club about the relocation.
“The women’s team only knows what has been reported in the media,” said goalkeeper Diana García in a video post to Instagram. “It is a situation that maintains us with the uncertainty of knowing what will happen to the team.”
On June 8, the rebranded Mazatlán Femenil was officially unveiled on social media. It is yet to be seen if any Morelia Femenil players will be a part of the relocated club.
Since mid-May, Mexico has faced a spike in COVID-19 cases. As the country begins to reopen, the exact nature of Liga MX Femenil’s future is still unknown.
The Federación has yet to determine a start date for the 2020 Apertura season.
