May 5 – Israeli football will return at the start of June, the country’s sports minister Miri Regev announced on Monday. In Hungary, the domestic cup semi-finals will mark a return of the game on May 23.
Israel’s minister for culture and sports Miri Regev confirmed that the goal is to allow football leagues to resume play by early June and finish the season by mid-July. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had confirmed that “sports will gradually open until mid-June” and at the same time he indicated that the restrictions on gatherings will be lifted in June. However, the prospective easing of the lockdown measures doesn’t imply that fans will be allowed to attend matches.
On April 20, Israeli clubs had already returned to training, enforcing social distancing measures on the field. Now, players will have to pledge in writing that they will be traveling to their homes immediately after training. There are 10 match days left in the Israeli top flight with Maccabi Tel Aviv (pictured in training) topping the table.
In Israel, there are 16,268 confirmed cases of the coronavirus while 237 people have died after contracting the virus, according to the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University.
In Hungary, the last four of the domestic cup has been given the go-ahead on May 23. The top flight will resume a week later, the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) announced. To ensure the health and safety of those involved, players and everyone they come into contact with will be submitted to a test twice a week or before each match.
Hungary’s number of confirmed coronavirus cases has topped 3,000 and 363 people have passed away from the illness, according to the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University. The capital Budapest remains in lockdown, but outside the capital restaurants and bars have been allowed to reopen.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714814404labto1714814404ofdlr1714814404owedi1714814404sni@o1714814404fni1714814404