LA LIGA CAN RESUME IN JUNE, SAYS SPAIN PM
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Saturday that La Liga can resume from its coronavirus lockdown on the week of June 8. “The resumption of major professional sporting competitions and in particular La Liga will be allowed from the week of June 8,” Sanchez said.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has said the preferred date for games to resume is Friday, June 12 and Sanchez’s announcement means that plan has been given the green light from the government.
Fixtures will be held behind closed doors, with only 197 people allowed to attend, according to a protocol prepared by La Liga. Players will also undergo tests for coronavirus the day before games and will have their temperatures taken before being allowed to enter stadiums.
DORTMUND WIN 2-0, STAY IN TITLE HUNT
Borussia Dortmund scored a goal in each half through Raphael Guerreiro and Achraf Hakimi to beat hosts VFL Wolfsburg 2-0 on Saturday and stay on the heels of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
Portugal international Guerreiro tapped in a cutback from Thorgan Hazard after Erling Haaland had failed to connect in the 32nd minute, and Hakimi fired in from a fine Jadon Sancho assist in the 78th to make sure of the three points.
PL CHIEF CONFIDENT OF JUNE RESTART
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters is confident the top-flight season will resume in June as ‘Project Restart’ gathers pace.
“We’ve taken the first step. It’s great for everybody, including the fans, to see our players back on the training ground,” Masters told BBC Sport on Friday.
Masters said he was “as confident as we can be” that teams would be able to start in June.
NEXT LIGUE 1 SEASON SET FOR AUG 23 START
The French Football League (LFP) on Saturday set August 23 as the provisional date for start of next Ligue 1 season.
They are waiting on the outcome of UEFA’S June 17 meeting on new dates for postponed European competitions before confirming the proposed dates.
But the LFP said that after talks with broadcasters, and leaving aside for now announcing specific match dates, “the start of season dates can be set on August 22 for Ligue 2 and August 23 for Ligue 1”.