SPAIN'S gradual unlocking means shops, bars and restaurants are now starting to open – although some would say more importantly, football is kicking off again.
From Thursday, June 11, the national premier league, La Liga, and also the second division, will be back on the pitch with 11 matches already scheduled before the end of the season, which will be over the weekend of July 18 and 19.
According to La Liga's Carlos del Campo and Óscar Mayo, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)'s Tomás González Cueto and Andreu Camps, and the High Council for Sports (CSD)'s Juan Fernández Carnicer and Joaquín de Arístegui, the first post-lockdown game will be a southern derby between Sevilla CF and Real Betis Balompié.
“From the way conversations have developed during this first ordinary meeting of the Contact Group [the CSD, RFEF and La Liga], created...within the Code of Conduct signed by all parties, it has been concluded that there will not be any problems or difficulties with scheduling days and times for matches,” the CSD reports.
It also congratulated the three organisations – who 'met' via video-conference – for their 'spirit of dialogue' and 'keen disposition' to make things work.
“The Contact Group will meet monthly; if, however, the parties involved request it, and depending with the circumstances that arise, additional meetings may take place,” the CSD confirms.
Following the Sevilla-Betis match, the games scheduled – in chronological order – are Athletic de Bilbao vs Atlético de Madrid; Celta de Vigo vs Villarreal CF; Espanyol vs Alavés; Granada vs Getafe; Leganés vs Valladolid; Mallorca vs FC Barcelona; Real Madrid vs Eibar; Real Sociedad vs Osasuna; and the concluding match will be a local derby between Valencia CF and UD Levante.
All matches will be behind closed doors, with no spectators.
These would have taken place in March if it had not been for the pandemic.
Some may have to be held in different venues – Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium and Levante's home arena are both undergoing renovation works at present.
Spain's president Pedro Sánchez said on his Twitter site: “The ball will roll again in conditions that guarantee maximum health and safety.”
The photograph above shows Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos with club manager and former France World Cup hero Zinedine 'Zizou' Zidane.
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