FOOTBALL is slowly but surely getting back on it’s feet after the coronavirus suspension.
After the success of Germany’s Bundesliga in getting games going again – albeit behind closed doors – leagues around Europe are starting to plan for a return themselves.
The Bundesliga has resumed with no fans in attendance Credit: Reuters
Premier League
- Date suspended: March 13.
- Date set for resumption: June 17.
- Opening fixtures: Man City vs Arsenal, Aston Villa vs Sheff Utd.
It’s been a long road back for the Premier League.
With the UK badly affected by Covid-19, it looked likely back in April that we wouldn’t see the season completed on the field.
But after getting the green light from the government, Prem chiefs pushed ahead with the Project Restart project which will see games played behind closed doors.
Man City vs Arsenal will be the first Premier League fixture played after the restartCredit: AP:Associated Press
The finer details are still to be ironed out and everything depends on the national ‘R’ rate staying low, but Premier League football looks set to resume on June 17.
Liverpool could win the title as early as their first match if Man City are beaten by Arsenal and they subsequently defeat Everton.
With top spot all but decided, attention will then most likely turn to the top four race and the scramble for survival at the bottom.
Serie A
Just like here in the UK, Italy suffered a catastrophic outbreak of Covid-19.
The strict lockdown has resulted in a dramatic fall in the infection rate and life is slowly starting to resemble some sort of normality around the country.
And Serie A chiefs have given a tentative green light for Serie A to return on either June 13 or June 20.
But the Italian government have warned the clubs that everything will stop if there is a positive coronavirus test.
Aaron Ramsey has scored four goals for Juventus this season Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Should one player or staff member contract Covid-19, the whole club will have to go into quarantine.
Sandra Zampa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, said: “If one gets sick, the quarantine is for everyone.
“Otherwise we would go back to suspending everything.
“Everything stops, no doubt if the quarantine is triggered, the championship also stops.”
Juventus are on course for a NINTH consecutive title, but Lazio are not going away quietly and will resume the campaign just one point off the Old Lady.
La Liga
At points during the crisis, it looked likely that the La Liga season would have to be completed without another ball being kicked.
But due to a lockdown on par with that in Italy, the country is in a position to restart sport again behind closed doors – and with stringent safety measures.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has confirmed that LaLiga will return on June 8.
Messi is one of the few Barcelona stars reportedly NOT up for saleCredit: Reuters
League organisers have drawn up a highly detailed plan to ensure safety is paramount.
That involves having a maximum of 197 people inside the stadium on matchday with players and officials tested 24 hours before their respective fixture.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are involved in a ding-dong clash for the title, as Los Blancos look to take the crown for the first time since 2017.
Other major European leagues
- Scottish Premiership – Cancelled
- Ligue 1 (France) – Cancelled
- Eredivisie (Holland) – Cancelled
- Pro League (Belgium) – Cancelled
- Primeira Liga (Portugal) – May 30
- SuperLiga (Denmark) – May 28
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
