Audio By Carbonatix
Spain's sports ministry on Thursday approved La Liga's plans for clubs to test their players for the coronavirus before they return to training as the league looks to restart the season in June after it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Athletes in Spain have been forced to train at home since early March due to one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe, but Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced they are free to begin individual training at facilities from next Monday.
A meeting was held between the sport ministry and officials from La Liga, the Spanish football federation, the Spanish Footballers' Association and top clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid among others.
The ministry said medical staff at the clubs would be allowed to carry out the tests. Individual training is part of phase two of Spain's de-escalation plan.
Phase three involves training in small groups of up to eight players while phase four refers to full group training which needs to last at least two weeks before action returns.
Top flight matches will not return until phase four is completed, with 11 rounds of La Liga and the Copa del Rey final yet to be played.
While France announced the end of their season with Paris St Germain being awarded the Ligue 1 title, all major sports institutions in Spain, including the government's department for sport, have committed to completing the season.
La Liga president Javier Tebas said not finishing the season would lead to collective losses of up to one billion euros ($1.09 billion).
Latest Stories
-
SSNIT says La Beach clearance was to protect hotel investments, beaches to remain public
7 minutes -
APSU congratulates St Augustine’s College after back-to-back National Investment Quiz wins
12 minutes -
Renewed flood intervention at Mallam Junction raises hopes among residents, businesses
52 minutes -
St Augustine’s College retain National Investment Quiz title after nail biting grand finale
1 hour -
Education infrastructure investment will drive Banda’s development – Ahmed Ibrahim
1 hour -
Teacher unions strike: Gov’t presents fresh proposals as talks end inconclusively
2 hours -
51,000 teachers’ promotion arrears to be validated for October payment – Education Minister
2 hours -
Kwabena Boamah appointed Board Chair for Impact Investing Ghana
2 hours -
Striking teacher unions to meet Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on October 6
3 hours -
EOCO working with AG to arraign Nana Baffour Awuah before weekend court
3 hours -
Duraplast reassures customers after fire, announces October 5 reopening
3 hours -
Call off strike, gov’t will not renege on promotion arrears pledge – Haruna Iddrisu to teacher unions
3 hours -
Committee set up to validate teachers eligible for 20% deprived-area allowance – Education Minister
3 hours -
Five-member committee to search for new Black Stars coach after Sports Ministry-GFA meeting
4 hours -
Pinktober: Breast cancer survival exceeds 90% when detected early – Breast Society of Ghana
4 hours