LaLiga in limbo as Spanish govt insist restart date is ‘impossible’

Hopes of an early resumption of Spain’s LaLiga appear to have been ended as the head of the country’s sports body said it is “impossible” to give a return date.

LaLiga bosses have already been forced to back away from initial plans for a return to action at some point this month.

And while players have been given the green light to return to some form of training from Monday, that does not mean a restart is in sight.

Irene Lozano, secretary of state for sport and President of Spain’s Higher Sports Council, said: “What has been decided is that, starting on May 4, players can resume what we have called basic, individual training.

“That is establishing a series of health precautions that we have details and worked with football to draft.

“This decision shows the government’s sensitivity to athletes.

“We have specified that medical examinations and tests will have to be carried out before training and the club doctors will be responsible for those.

“But in terms of playing matches, we have to see how training can be evolved.

“There will be different phases and at this time it is impossible to set a date on the return of the competition.

“We have to see how everything evolves, including the numbers of the pandemic.”

Like most countries, even if LaLiga can resume, it will be behind closed doors.

And Lozano suggested that that situation is likely to last for months unless a Covid-19 vaccine is discovered.

Lozano added: “Spanish clubs are relatively healthy financially compared to other countries and that means football has to contribute to the rescue of other sports.

“But until we have a vaccine it is not feasible that there can be games with crowds.”

The Premier League plans to return on June 8, with clubs sent a proposed new timetable to finish the season despite the coronavirus pandemic.

PSG were confirmed as Ligue 1 champions after the season was scrapped and French president Emmanuel Macron, is reportedly pushing for the UK, Spain, Germany and Italy to follow suit.

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The Bundesliga was set to resume on May 9 but the restart date was pushed back until at least May 16 as Germany were cautious of causing a second wave of the killer virus by easing restrictions.