CHISINAU, March 18, 2020 - On Tuesday, March 17, the Moldovan Parliament declared a state of emergency. In its short independent history, Moldova has faced a fair number of crisis, including a civil war, but such a drastic move never had political precedent. Coronavirus changed everything.
Just 10 days earlier, on March 7, the country registered it's first case. Now, at the time of writing, on March 17, the number of infected stands at 29. Almost half of the patients imported the coronavirus from abroad. The other half fell prey to a local chain of transmission.
After the news about the first coronavirus case broke, Moldovan authorities gradually introduced a number of measures aiming to stall the spread of the virus. All schools and universities were ordered shut. All gatherings of 50 people or more - prohibited. All markets and businesses, save for grocery stores, pharmacies and petrol stations, to be closed. All borders - shut, all flights - canceled. Even the small separatist Republic of Transnistria located in the east of Moldova announced the complete closure of borders.
All of these measures effectively meant that all sporting life in the country ceased. Initially, the authorities announced that the measures were to last two weeks, until April 1. But that was before March 17. The state of emergency declared by the country's government extended the quarantine until May 15, 2020.
Football became the sport that was most heavily affected by the recent developments. The first top division games of the Moldovan football season were set to kick-off on March 14. The 2nd division was due to start at the end of March, while the 3rd division openers were scheduled for early April.
But that's not all, on March 26, the country's national football team was due to play a friendly against Andorra. Five days later, on the 31st, the team was due to play one of the biggest matches of the year - against Russia.
As the country began introducing anti-corona measures, the Moldovan Football Association reacted quickly. The football season was initially postponed until April 4. After the state of emergency was invoked - the kick-off was moved to the end of May. Before the situation grew too serious, some hoped that the first rounds of the league could take place without spectators, but authorities wouldn't allow it.
Up until the very end, the morning of March 17th, the FA hoped that the matches against Andorra and Russia would still take place. Behind closed doors. But circumstances forced the hotly-anticipated games to be abandoned. Moldova's new manager German Engin Firat, as well as the national team players urged Moldovans to stay safe - and stay at home.
