Real Madrid have had to self-isolate following a basketball participant testing positive, leading to the governing body suspending upcoming matches.
La Liga has officially introduced the suspension of the next two matchdays following the information that Real Madrid have been forced into coronavirus quarantine.
Several of Spain ‘s soccer fixtures had already been disrupted by issues over the unfold of the virus, with matches both being rescheduled or forced to take place at the back of closed doors.
Now, however, with Madrid having long past into isolation after learning that a member of their basketball team – who use the same training services as the soccer team – had tested positive for Covid-19, things have turn out to be even more complicated.
A statement from La Liga reads: “La Liga has decided given the situations that have come to light this morning, such as the quarantine put in place at Real Madrid and possible positive cases at different clubs, to proceed with the subsequent section of the protocol of action towards Covid-19.
“In accordance with measures mounted in the Royal Decree 664/1997 of May 12, it has been agreed that the competition will be postponed for the subsequent two matchdays.
“Said decision will be re-evaluated after the completion of the quarantines undertaken in the affected clubs and in different feasible conditions that may also arise.
“As organiser of the competition, La Liga has communicated the decision to the RFEF, the CSD and the clubs.”
La Liga is a long way from the first league to be affected by the ongoing crisis, with Italy’s prime minister Giuseppe Conte having suspended all Serie A games till further notice as the country struggles to incorporate the outbreak.
Since then, Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive and has long gone into self-isolation, whilst Inter have cancelled all competitive things to do after Rugani was present in the clash between the two Serie A sides.
In England, Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City on Wednesday was postponed due to members of the Gunners squad and backroom body of workers coming into contact with Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who tested positive for the virus.
Elsewhere, in Germany, the DFB launched a declaration of their own, with General Secretary Friedrich Curtius stating: “We have to deal with all the viable eventualities in order to be organized in case of an interruption or even an early end of the season.
“The aim remains, of course, to end the season in a normal sporting manner. But the health authorities have the decisive word. We’ll follow these recommendations except any ifs and buts, and we persistently align the corporation of match operations, which is the core venture of the DFB and its associations, with them.”
