August 4 – Spanish football authorities have staged an unexpected u-turn by ruling that the all-important final tier-2 fixture of the season between Deportivo La Coruna and Fuenlabrada can go ahead after all tomorrow.
The game was originally postponed and not rescheduled, then cancelled altogether, when Fuenlabrada confirmed 28 positive cases of Covid-19.
As a result Deportivo La Coruna were relegated while Fuenlabrada were unable to contest a play-off spot at the other end of the table.
Both clubs refused to accept the decision with Deportivo, not so long ago regular Champions League participants, warning of legal action though that has since been overtaken by events after other results in the final round saw them demoted to the third division anyway.
Reports in Spain claimed La Liga’s request to cancel the fixture and hand the final promotion playoff spot to sixth-place Elche was rejected by a judge last week. As a result the Spanish FA (RFEF) has now announced its competition committee had ruled the game will take place after all, with the play-offs due to begin on August 13.
In a short statement, Fuenlabrada welcomed the ruling, saying: “We consider that justice has been done by being able to finish the competition on the field, something that we will do with the greatest enthusiasm.”
Fuenlabrada needs at least a draw to grab the final playoff spot currently held by Elche.
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