Top Slovakian side MŠK Žilina has become the first football team that has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic that is gripping the world.

MSK Zilina which won the Slovakian Super Liga 7 times said in a statement posted on its website:

In the current situation, players with professional contracts could show solidarity, especially to the people who were involved in their training, who provided them with service and conditions.

The players with the highest salaries and those whose contracts were finishing this summer or winter were released.

Our budget for this year is based on revenues we were counting on receiving this summer during the transfer period.

Today, this amount will in all likelihood be close to zero.

The young players, who have shown willingness and solidarity, will have their chances as they have been kept.”

MSK Zilina in 2010 became the Slovakian club to play in the group stages of the Uefa Champions League.-City Press