Spanish league president can’t wait to have fans back
La Liga president Javier Tebas said Wednesday he hoped some fans could return to league matches in late April, but reports that the Copa del Rey could open its gates earlier drew a stinging response from the government.
“It’s been a year, we’ve learned a lot, and we hope that by the third week of April we can start to have a percentage back in the stadiums,” Tebas told a press breakfast, adding “if circumstances allow”.
Separate reports on Wednesday that fans would be admitted when the 2020 and 2021 Copa del Rey finals were played in Seville on April 3 and 17 were rejected by Health Minister Carolina Darias.
“Let me be clear and blunt. It is not appropriate. It is not timely and it is not convenient,” Darias told a press conference.
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The Covid-19 infection rate has increased slightly in several regions recently which may mean that a weeks-long decline in the national infection rate has bottomed out, she added.
Spain has suffered more than three million Covid-19 cases and 72,565 deaths.
Spaniards traditionally take holidays in the week running up to Easter Sunday, which falls on April 4 this year.
“We all hope that after Easter we can set a quick date.”