Spanish La Liga mandated all the clubs in the first and second divisions of the league to test their players and backroom staff for coronavirus recently. The tests were carried out on the training fields of the 42 clubs in both divisions between Tuesday and Wednesday last week. The tests of 5 players from both divisions came back positive, according to an official statement issued by La Liga during the weekend.
“Between the clubs of [the first and second divisions], five positive cases have been detected among players, all of them asymptomatic and in the final stage of the illness”, the statement read. La Liga however failed to mention the names of the players and the clubs they play for which is a policy under data protection right in Spain.
Those players who have tested positive for the virus will have to self-isolate and be tested again over the coming days. When they have returned two negative results, 72 hours apart, they will be allowed to join their teammates in training.
Recall that the ministry of health in Spain has given the La Liga the approval to resume the league in June. But before then, there are some guidelines the league have to follow. Some of such are disinfecting the stadia and training facilities, testing of both players and backroom staff, and isolating those who teat positive for the virus.
Hence, the round of tests conducted less than a week ago suppose to be the first phase or stage towards resumption of the 2019-2020 season which has been halted since March. The second has also been done which is disinfecting playing surfaces and inspections of the facilities.
Clubs in La Liga are back to Training
Some clubs like Barcelona, Sevilla, Villarreal, Osasuna and Leganes have opened their training facilities during the weekend and they have started training individually. Other clubs are expected to commence theirs in the coming days.
Real Madrid has already announced that the club will commence training today, Monday May 11. Like how Barcelona and other clubs’ players did theirs, the players are expected to drive directly to the training ground kitted and drive back to their various homes after training. They are not allowed to use the locker room before, during and after the training.
