This archive report was first published on 10 May 2020.
On Sunday, La Liga confirmed that five players from Spain's top two leagues had tested positive for coronavirus. The players, who have not been officially named, will now be quarantined at home and tested again in the next few days.
According to La Liga, the players will be allowed to rejoin their club's training programme only after obtaining two consecutive negative test results. The league's training plan includes players initially carrying out work individually before then expanding into small groups and finally taking part in larger team sessions.
Barcelona's players were back for their first session on Friday, while Real Madrid's will return on Monday. The medical protocol for training is strict, with players arriving already changed and at specific times to avoid contact with others. They wear masks and gloves, and have their temperatures taken before entering the premises.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has said that cancelling the top flight is not an option, estimating the economic fallout would cost clubs around a billion euros. However, the third and fourth tiers in Spain will not complete their seasons, as confirmed by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Wednesday.
Published on May 10, 2020, La Liga's plan to restart competitive games in the middle of June is still on track, with the proposed date being June 20. Football matches are expected to be staged behind closed doors for several months.
