Belarus forced to call off games as Covid-19 strikes
May 12 – The one country in Europe playing regular football despite Covid-19, has had to postpone two games because of the virus.
Europe
Coronavirus: Denmark drive towards May 28 restart
May 12 – Denmark is the latest country to name a date for resuming top-flight football with May 28 confirmed following a gap of more than two months.
Bundesliga 2’s Dresden quarantined throwing May 16 restart into turmoil
By Andrew Warshaw
May 11 – The whole concept of resuming top-flight football, which has split public opinion down the middle both on sporting and moral grounds, has suffered a blow with the entire squad of Dynamo Dresden, who play in the second tier of German football, put into two-week isolation after two players tested positive for coronavirus.
Milan clubs submit new proposals for San Siro retaining part of iconic stadium
May 11 – The €1 billion redevelopment proposal for the Milan’s San Siro stadium and the surrounding area took another step forward at the end of last week with a preparatory document for the feasibility project being submitted to Municipality of Milan at the end of last week.
Coronavirus: LaLiga still on course for June 12 restart as positive test protocols kick-in
May 11 – Five players in the top two tiers of professional football in Spain have tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of a possible resumption of the season.
Bundesliga ups the pace with government greenlighting return to play on May 16
May 7 – Concerns that the resumption of Bundesliga season may have to be put back a week have been dismissed, with May 16 confirmed today for the eagerly-awaited restart, the first of the Big Five leagues to kick off again and a huge morale boost for others planning to go the same way, albeit slightly later.
Barca back in business as player testing sees return to individual training
May 7 – Barcelona players are being tested for Covid-19 at the club’s training ground before resuming individual work “in the coming days” following the easing of some restrictions by the government in Spain.
Bundesliga pushed back another week as Merkel demands players are quarantined
May 6 – The return of the Bundesliga to top-flight action has suffered a setback after Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted on a two-week quarantine period for players meaning games cannot resume until May 22 at the earliest.
Coronavirus: England and Scotland national team players donate to NHS
May 6 – The England and Scotland national sides have made substantial donations to Britain’s National Health Service as both countries continue the fight against coronavirus.
ECA clubs support International Missing Children’s Day with social channels
May 6 – The European Clubs Association (ECA) is supporting a new initiative to coincide with International Missing Children’s Day.
EFL’s Parry says clubs face £200m shortfall as talk turns to salary caps and rescue packages
By Paul Nicholson
May 5 – English Football League chairman Rick Parry painted the picture of a £200 million financial hole for the league and its 72 clubs by September, on top of an already existing wage issue that sees Championship club owners putting in on average £16 million of their own money to reach the Premier League.
Partick Thistle fans save club £75,000 by spurning refunds for truncated season
By David Owen
May 5 – These are massively challenging times for clubs not at the apogee of the football pyramid, so it is heartening to be able to report on the helping hand that has been extended to Partick Thistle, one of the best-loved clubs in Scotland, by diehard fans.
Angry Amiens call for LFP to rethink relegation and expand top tier to 22 teams
May 5 – In the latest example of the furious reaction and potentially legally complex situation that can occur when leagues are wound up prematurely because of Covid-19, Amiens SC have launched an online petition calling on France’s Professional Football League (LFP) to review its decision to relegate the club.
LaLiga begins first of 4-phased return to work
May 5 – La Liga has confirmed that Spain’s footballers will go back to training this week with a view to resuming fixtures in June.
Israelis and Hungarians plan end May returns for top tier leagues
May 5 – Israeli football will return at the start of June, the country’s sports minister Miri Regev announced on Monday. In Hungary, the domestic cup semi-finals will mark a return of the game on May 23.