Spanish Prime Minster says LaLiga resumes June 8
LaLiga top-flight football has been given green light that it would resume games next month after Pedro Sanchez, Spanish prime minister the announcement saying that LaLiga would be allowed to return as soon as 8 June.
With the new development, Spanish top-flight would be the second major league to restart sport amidst the pandemic after Germany’s Bundesliga.
On 12 March, Spanish top-flight was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic but the league has been eager for a return as all kinds of preparations have been put in place as group training of at most 10 players was allowed earlier this week.
With 11 more fixtures left for each LaLiga team to play, a return date need to be deliberated on and confirmed, although June 12 is as at now the potential date for game return according the league’s president.
“The resumption of major professional sporting competitions and, in particular, LaLiga will be allowed from the week of June 8,” said the prime minister.
Javier Tebas, LaLiga president has been kin on resuming the Spanish top-flight game as soon as possible to at least follow Bundesliga’s lead.
While reacting to the news, Tebas said in a tweet, “We are very happy for the decision, it is the result of the great work of clubs, players, technicians, CSD (National Sports Council) and agents involved.”
“But we cannot lower our guard, it is important to follow health regulations and ensure the pandemic doesn’t come back,” Tebas warned.
Amidst concerns that
Spain’s lockdown would be lifted region by region, there is however a prospect that Seville derby, between Sevilla and Real Betis would be the first game to resume.
Speaking about LaLiga returning, Monchi, Sevilla sporting director said, “There is no better way for LaLiga to return than this derby. It will be one more incentive, as we are all looking forward to football returning and that first match will be magnificent.”
Just like other countries such as Germany, Spain is also putting in place adequate and extensive measures especially for players and officers as they frequently undergo strict testing and quarantine rules before fixtures.
Being one of the hardest hit countries, Spain has so far recorded more than 235,000 coronavirus cases, 150, 000 recoveries and 28,628 deaths.
