LaLiga players to start training as possibility of resumption looms

As Spain brings the coronavirus pandemic under control, the country’s prime minister has announced that all first-team players in the Spanish top-flight can commence training from next week.

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This is as the country eases on lockdown restrictions and works to restore normal activity by the end of June. Players will begin individual training and could be training together in small groups within a week, as part of a four-phase plan to lift what has been recognised as one of the toughest coronavirus lockdowns in Europe. To date, Spain has recorded 232 128 Covid-19 cases and 23 822 deaths, the third-highest of any country in the world.

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Players can begin individual training from Monday and could be training together in small groups within a week, as part of a four-phase plan to lift lockdown restrictions in Spain (Image: Reuters).

Professional sportspeople will be able to train individually from May 4 in the first phase,” said Pedro Sanchez, Spain’s prime minister. The next phase of the gradual lifting on restrictions will see small groups being allowed to train as early as May 11 although the lifting of social distancing restrictions might be approached more cautiously.

The announcement added that there might be the possibility of competitive games starting to be held. “The opening of high-performance centres with hygiene measures and increased protection is being considered as well,” said Sanchez. LaLiga chief, Javier Tebas, on Tuesday reiterated his desire for an already disrupted season to be completed after all football in Spain was halted last month.

“In Spain football is an important economic engine we need to reactivate. I don’t understand how there will be more risk of playing football behind closed doors,” Tebas said in a statement. Spain’s death toll of 301 on Monday was a third down from the record high of 950 earlier this month, fuelling the possibility that football will return to the European nation before long.