CPL asks Canadian government for $15M in assistance amid pandemic

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.

The Canadian Premier League is asking the federal government for $15 million to combat the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The eight-team league confirmed to The Canadian Press' Neil Davidson that it's following in the footsteps of the Canadian Football League, which appealed to Ottawa on Tuesday for $150 million in relief.

The CPL was scheduled to kick off its second season April 11.

"So, you've got no revenue ... No fans, no revenue. No revenue, no business. No business, no jobs," CPL commissioner David Clanachan told The Canadian Press.

Players agreed to defer 25% of their salaries during the work stoppage. Coaches and club staff will also forfeit an unspecified sum in an attempt to prevent job cuts.

The CPL employs 400 full-time staff and 1,600 part-time workers.

Forge FC, based in Hamilton, Ontario, won the inaugural CPL title in November.