MLS gives go ahead for full team training to resume

ST. JOHN’S, Canada— To say it has been an eventful week for Major League Soccer would be an understatement of epic proportions.

Following fears of an imminent lockout, MLS and its players association were able to strike up a deal at the buzzer. Just 24 hours later and the league has now given Toronto FC and the rest of its clubs the go ahead to return to full team training.

While this is another crucial step in the return to action, the Reds need to get clearance from more than just MLS itself before everyone can pile into the Downsview park training facility at once.

According to the official release on the Toronto FC website, “Individual club plans must be reviewed and approved by the club’s medical staff and local infectious disease expert prior to submission to MLS for review.”

Clubs around the league returned sporadically upon being granted permission to host individual voluntary workouts nearly a month ago. TFC had been back some two weeks before the Montreal Impact were able to get approval for their players to access team training facilities.

For now, it remains unclear whether every team league wide will return simultaneously.

The Reds are required to implement rigorous testing methods to ensure the health and safety of both their staff and players as well as strictly enforcing isolation measures in the case of a positive test. For a more detailed explanation of the policies, see the official release.

The team training moratorium had been put in place way back on March 12 before being lifted earlier today.

With all 26 sides set to gather in Orlando later this month for a tournament style return to play, expectations are all teams will look to get the whole group back and training together as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.