Spanish football postponed until further notice amid coronavirus crisis
Spanish football has been put on hold indefinitely, with La Liga and the football federation, the RFEF, agreeing there will be no return to action until the government and health authorities consider it opportune and without risk. The measure applies to all levels, from the first division to amateur football.
This is the first time the season has been put on hold with no proposed date for its return, although everybody was aware that any strategy depended on the evolution of the coronavirus crisis. The announcement, which thanked those providing essential services and expressed condolences for those who have died, reflects a growing realisation in Spain that recovery will be long.
It is also the first time the league and federation have issued a joint statement. The two bodies have been engaged in a seemingly endless battle, with their presidents, Javier Tebas and Luis Rubiales respectively, attacking each other repeatedly.
The league and the federation continue to plan for an attempt to finish the season, if possible by 30 June, and
Tebas had been publicly bullish that it could be completed by then. Rubiales, by contrast, insisted that if they had to play past that point they would do so. He ruled out declaring the season over with the title, European places and relegation decided on current positions.
La Liga initially announced the postponement of two match days in the first and second divisions and those dates have passed. The hope had been to restart at the beginning of April.
The league outlined a number of scenarios to Fifa last week, the most optimistic of which had football returning in the middle of next month, the most pessimistic involving a compressed format in which the final 11 weeks were squeezed into a short period beginning in late May. In part the league had to offer up contingency plans in order to placate TV rights holders and sponsors and give the impression there were ways in which they could complete the season. Clubs and the league are speaking to Fifpro, the world players’ union, about reducing players’ salaries temporarily as they confront the economic fallout.
Spain remains in lockdown, with schools, restaurants and businesses shut and the population banned from leaving home unless it is “essential”. The lockdown, originally announced for two weeks starting on 14 March, has been extended for two more weeks, to at least 11 April. More than 2,000 people have died, including the former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz. Football clubs have stopped training and sent players home: they are subject to the same restrictions as the rest of the country.
Clubs feel that they will need some sort of mini pre-season before competitive fixtures return. The league believes it is likely to be necessary to play games behind closed doors in order to complete the season – if they go ahead at all.