LALIGA president Javier Tebas is convinced the league season will be completed as he desperately tries to “soften the economic blow” caused by coronavirus.
The top tiers in Spain are currently suspended until at least the weekend of April 4 and 5.
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Javier Tebas, the LaLiga president, knows the financial importance of completing the seasonCredit: EPA
But with the country on lockdown after a huge surge in the number of confirmed cases of the killer bug in the last week, it is unclear when it will be safe for matches to resume.
As things stand, Barcelona are top of the league with 11 games remaining, but are just two points clear of rivals Real Madrid, who squandered their slender advantage by losing to Real Betis in their last game before the suspension.
Tebas, though, knows that failure to fulfil all the fixtures as planned would have major financial repercussions.
He told Spanish radio outlet Cadena Cope: “We’re working on that other virus which is seeing what happens with our contracts around the world.
“We have a very important week ahead. We have 100 different obligations with 100 operators around the world and, if there’s no broadcasting, there’s no earning.
“We’re working to see if we can fit in some calendars in order to soften the economic blow that will arrive.
“If the competitions are suspended, everything is revised and revenues are a lot lower.
All the budgets of the teams are going to be comprised if the season doesn’t get finished, but I’m convinced that it will get finished.
Javier Tebas
“All the budgets of the teams are going to be comprised if the season doesn’t get finished, but I’m convinced that it will get finished.”
Uefa members are meeting on Tuesday to discuss the implications the global pandemic will have on Euro 2020.
Many expect the tournament to be pushed back – either to later in the year or most likely by 12 months to take place in the summer of 2021 instead.
And the shifting of the international event could allow clubs to complete the domestic season – as well as the Champions League and Europa League – into June.
LaLiga were already planning to stage matches behind closed doors before Real Madrid basketball player Trey Thompkins tested positive for Covid-19.
Zinedine Zidane’s squad train at the same complex as the basketball and handball teams so the footballers were sent home and put in quarantine.
On Sunday, Valencia defender Ezequiel Garay became the first player to contract the virus.
Shortly after his announcement, his club revealed on social media that five positive cases of coronavirus had been detected from first-team players and technicians.
The statement read: “All are in their homes in good health and with isolation measures.”
Garay’s team-mate and former Manchester City man Eliaquim Mangala later confirmed on Twitter that he too had contracted the virus.
Barcelona have been put in quarantine and will continue training in their homes with specific work overseen by the club’s personal trainers.
These are all the matches that have been suspended so far
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
