Football matches were called off in the Republic of Ireland due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The absence of fixtures led directly to the end of Mick McCarthy 's time as national team manager , with the FAI announcing a surprise early beginning to the managerial tenure of Stephen Kenny—who had been lined up to succeed McCarthy in August following the completion of UEFA Euro 2020—on the night of 4 April.  League of Ireland clubs began to respond to the pandemic in mid-March .
2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Republic of Ireland