Coronavirus: Spanish PM gives green light for LaLiga return on 8 June
Pedro Sánchez announced on Saturday that Spanish football will return next month with the country expected to be in the advanced stages of Covid-19 de-escalation.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced that LaLiga will be cleared to return to action as of 8 June, when it is anticipated the country will be in phase three of the national coronavirus de-escalation plan and inter-province travel will be permitted once more. Real Madrid, Barcelona and the rest of the top-flight clubs can expect to play the first of their remaining matches on the weekend of 12-14 June, with the football authorities planning to kick off the postponed 2019-20 season run-in with Rayo Vallecano versus Albacete - which was suspended last December - on 9 June.
Sánchez explained during a press conference on Saturday that Spain will be in phase three by that date and the country will be operating to some degree of normalcy after the worst of the coronavirus pandemic has passed, paving the way for sporting events to be staged. While fans will not be permitted to attend games the LFP and the AFE players' union are keen to end the season before August, when the Champions League is slated to be completed.
LFP and AFE to discuss Liga return
Spanish sides are expected to return to group training next week and it remains to be seen what conditions the LFP and AFE place on a return to competition. What is certain is that the Health Ministry will have the final say on whether or not LaLiga kicks off in the week of 8 June or not, based on the continued decrease in Covid-19 cases across the country.