La Liga plan on despite 5 cases
THE Spanish league is not changing its plan to resume competing after five players from clubs in the first and second divisions tested positive for COVID-19.
The league confirmed the positive tests yesterday but said it was not going to alter the practice protocol that got under way last week. Players from most clubs began individual training sessions on Friday after nearly two months of confinement because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The league said it will “continue to apply the back-to-training protocol,” that was approved by government authorities to “guarantee the maximum safety of all players, coaches and club employees.”
It said it has “warned” everyone to keep following health safety measures suggested by authorities so the numbers of infected players “remain very low.”
The five players who tested positive for COVID-19 will remain sidelined until they fully recover. They are all without symptoms and recovering from the disease, according to the league. They will be allowed to resume practicing after testing negative in two consecutive tests.
All other players tested negative, the league said. Players, coaches and club employees involved in the training sessions are being tested daily.
The league did not name the players who tested positive. It also didn’t disclose their clubs. Spanish media said three players were from first division clubs, including Atletico Madrid defender Renan Lodi.
Atletico on Saturday posted a message on an official club social media channel with a picture of the Brazilian and the message: “Renan Lodi says hello from his home. We will see you very soon on the field, Renan!”
He did not practice as the rest of Atletico players resumed their activities on Saturday. None of the players who tested positive reportedly play for Barcelona or Real Madrid. Barcelona was among the first teams to resume practicing on Friday. Real is expected to be back in action today.
Spain last week started loosening some of the lockdown measures that had been in place since mid-March because of the pandemic, allowing soccer players to resume training individually at the teams’ base camps.
The league sent clubs a detailed fourstage protocol for the return to practice. The individual training will be followed by smaller group sessions and then full squad sessions.
The league wants a total training period of about a month before it can restart. It recently said it hoped to resume sometime in June with games without fans.
Meanwhile, the English Premier League’s challenge of resuming during the pandemic was underscored yesterday when Brighton and Hove Albion announced a player had tested positive just as clubs prepare for fresh talks on how they can create safe conditions to play again.
Brighton Chief Executive Paul Barber said the club’s COVID-19 case was “a concern,” with players still only training individually at the club. It reinforces how players could potentially spread the coronavirus if the government approves the reintroduction of group training and lifts the shutdown of sports that has been in place since March.
The 20 EPL clubs are due to hold a conference call today after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the nation setting out the stages for lifting the lockdown. The government has said it wants to see the return of the EPL to “lift the spirits of the nation.”
Even though fans will not be allowed in stadiums, the league’s “Project Restart” faces resistance from clubs who will not approve plans to use neutral venues. Watford claims to now be among at least six clubs insistent on being allowed to play at home — including Brighton — despite police saying that is not feasible.
Brighton has not named the player who was informed on Saturday of his positive coronavirus test. There is no need for other members of the squad or coaches to self-isolate because players have only worked in isolation when at the training base, the south-coast club said.
Brighton said three players have now had the coronavirus, having announced the first diagnosis in March. Government social distancing regulations prevent players training together.
The planned resumption of football in Germany next weekend has already hit problems.
Dynamo Dresden will not be able to play Hannover after two players tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday, forcing the entire squad, coaching and supervisory staff to enter 14 days of quarantine at home.
(AP)