Coronavirus in sport: La Liga clubs to resume training this week

Bengaluru, May 5: La Liga clubs are returning to training this week following the Spanish Ministry of Health's approval for the return of sports training sessions and it is likely that the top flight of Spanish football will resume sometime next month.

Football in Spian, just like the rest of the world had been brought to a grinding halt by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In accordance with the Return to Training Protocol that La Liga has drawn up with medical experts, professional players from the first and second divisions of professional football in Spain - will start training alone following medical tests carried out by club staff.

"This return to training has been planned by La Liga with measures that have been agreed with the relevant sports and health authorities in order to guarantee as much safety as possible for the health of all those involved," a La Liga statement said.

Official statement.#LaLigaSantander and #LaLigaSmartBank clubs to return to training this week.

— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) May 4, 2020

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.

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 end with group activities prior to the return to competition, scheduled for June.

Professional footballers returning to work will go hand in hand with the recovery of a very significant economic sector that accounts for 1.37 per cent of Spain's GDP and creates 185,000 jobs. This is at a time when the country's economic situation is now the main concern, precipitated by the health crisis.

"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'll also bring back an element of life that people in Spain and around the world know and love," said La Liga President Javier Tebas.

"People's health is paramount, so we've 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 2019-20 season this summer," Tebas added.

(With MSL Media inputs)