May 5 – La Liga has confirmed that Spain’s footballers will go back to training this week with a view to resuming fixtures in June.
Training grounds are currently being prepared, disinfected and inspected and players will undergo Covid-19 anti-body tests before returning.
In the first of four staggered phases there will be no contact with coaching staff or each other. In total, the league anticipates that there will be a month of preparation before competition gets under way.
“The return of football is a sign that society is progressing to a new normality,” said La Liga president Javier Tebas. “It will bring back a part of life that people in Spain and around the world love.”
The Spanish FA (RFEF) has said it even will grant the request of Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad to reschedule the postponed Copa del Rey final for when the coronavirus is no longer a threat so the match can be played in front of fans even though that could take months, possibly well into next year.
It is the first ever final between the two Basque rivals and was due to be held on April 18 in Seville until the season was indefinitely postponed in March.
“The presidents of Copa del Rey finalists Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, after meeting with the president of the Spanish soccer association, have agreed to request that the final is played with supporters at a later date to be agreed by the three parties,” the clubs said in a joint statement.
“Both clubs have always wanted our supporters to be able to attend the match; what we want more than anything is to have a Cup final with our supporters in the stands.”
The RFEF said it agreed “wholeheartedly”.
“The trophy with the most prestige and tradition in Spanish football deserves a final with supporters,” it said.
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