The Latest: Spanish soccer federation OKs Monday games
The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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The Spanish soccer federation says it will allow games to be played on Mondays and Fridays until the end of the season even though a judge has denied the Spanish league’s official request to play on those days.
League president Javier Tebas has said he wants matches to be played every day but the federation had been against the idea.
The federation says it “wants to clearly show its good will” and is also willing to extend the exception into the beginning of next season depending on how the pandemic progresses and if games will continue to be played without fans.
The league says it will appeal the judge’s decision. It says it jeopardizes the soccer industry in Spain. The league was not able to schedule matches on Mondays before the competition was suspended in mid-March.
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Premier League clubs have voted unanimously to resume contact training in the latest step toward restarting the soccer season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The league says players are now able to train as a group and “engage in tackling while minimizing any unnecessary close contact.”
Play has been suspended in the world’s richest league since March 13.
The league says “discussions are ongoing as work continues toward resuming the season.”
Players returned to training last week and have been practicing in small groups with social distancing maintained.
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The final Asian qualifying place for the women’s soccer tournament at the Tokyo Olympics is set to be decided in February.
The Asian Football Confederation says the postponed two-leg series between China and South Korea will be played Feb. 19 and 24. No venues for the games were announced.
The games were previously postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed for one year.
The 12-team women’s tournament is scheduled to start in Japan ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony on July 23, 2021.
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