Audio By Carbonatix
Spanish football began the path back towards normality on Monday as organisers said clubs would resume training this week for the first time since activity was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic and targeted resuming the season in June.
La Liga said clubs in the top two divisions would return to individual training following a protocol it had agreed with Spain's sports and health authorities and which guaranteed the safety of players and staff.
The protocol obliges players to undergo testing for the novel coronavirus before they can return to training facilities.
"These measures cover a period of approximately four weeks with different phases that, in any case, will be subject to the de-escalation process established by the government," said the statement.
"Thus, together with the medical tests carried out by clubs, a staggered return to training has been implemented that will start with players training alone and with group activities prior to the return to competition, scheduled for June."
La Liga president Javier Tebas said the season would bring back a sense of normality to Spain, which has lost over 25,000 lives to the virus and seen its economy paralysed.
"This crisis has had a profound impact on all of us. The return of football is a sign that society is progressing towards the new normal. It will also bring back an element of life that people in Spain and around the world know and love," he said.
"People's health is paramount so we have a comprehensive protocol to safeguard the health of everyone involved as we work to restart La Liga. Circumstances are unprecedented but we hope to start playing again in June and finish our season this summer."
While France's Ligue 1 was declared finished last week and the Dutch top-flight was also ended, the major stakeholders in Spain have remained determined to complete the season in order to avoid potential losses of around one billion euros.
Tebas has been particularly bullish about restarting the campaign and criticised the cancellation of the French season, which was the first of Europe's five major leagues to fall victim to the crisis.
Spanish soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales, who has had some high-profile clashes with Tebas in the past, has also remained committed to getting the season back on the road, as has Spain's minister for sport Irene Lozano.
Latest Stories
-
Mahama commissions Odumase Krobo Divisional Police HQ, boosts operations with vehicles
2 minutes -
Roads Minister urges contractors to stay on site, assures prioritised payments
7 minutes -
Suhuyini credits Ameri plant for averting 2024 power crisis in Kumasi
9 minutes -
Thirteen killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, health ministry says
23 minutes -
Tano North MP sounds alarm over galamsey devastation, accuses officials of shielding perpetrators
23 minutes -
World Relays: Ghana miss automatic qualification after finishing 4th in heat
31 minutes -
NACOC disrupts suspected drug network in Winneba ahead of Aboakyiri Festival
47 minutes -
You don’t need to incur GH¢15.6bn loss to stabilise the economy – Dr Boako tells gov’t
59 minutes -
Video: Dr Gideon Boako explains why he thinks BoG’s 2025 losses is more than GH¢15.6bn
1 hour -
The Bank of Ghana has not made any losses that should be a topic for discussion — Sammy Gyamfi
2 hours -
AMA to reintroduce Town Councils to enhance sanitation enforcement
2 hours -
Central bank’s inflation fight since 2022 came at a cost – Prof Turkson
2 hours -
If BoG isn’t a profit-making institution, it also can’t be a loss-making one – Kofi Bentil
3 hours -
Rethinking intelligence in the age of Artificial Intelligence
3 hours -
‘Every day is about survival’ – Workers demand action beyond May Day celebrations
3 hours