CORONAVIRUS: LA LIGA PRESIDENT JAVIER TEBAS HOPES FOR 12 JUNE RESTART
Javier Tebas (La Liga president ) hopes Spain’s top flight will restart on 12 June and says coronavirus tests will mean “practically zero” risk to players during games.
It was announced on Sunday that five players had tested positive for the virus across the country top two divisions.
Testing of La Liga players started last week as it plans to resume training and play matches behind closed doors.
“I’d like it [the restart date] to be 12 June,” Tebas told Movistar.
“But we have to be careful. It will depend on many factors such as a potential rise in infections, factors which don’t depend on football but on Spanish society.
“The risk during games will be zero, or practically zero, because the players will be tested – with only a 5% possible failure rate – 24 hours before.”
The president added that Spain’s second division would restart at the same time and that national competitions would need to be completed by 31 July, with European competitions finished in August.
He said “interesting and groundbreaking” broadcasting alternatives would be used given there will be no fans at games and that there will “be football every day” once the league restarts.
A number of clubs, including Barcelona, started individual training last week.
They will continue to be tested and can only rejoin training when they return two consecutive negative results.
He said “between 25-30 positive cases” had been expected, adding that five positive tests is “good news for the football industry”.
Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid captain added: “Players and football can help the economy to work again, help get out of complicated situations again.”
“Football is secondary right now, but it can serve as a distraction for the people who have been suffering.”
Spain has been one of the worst hit countries in Europe, with 26,621 deaths and 264,663 infections as of 11 May.
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