• Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos, right, and Sergio Busquets of Barcelona challenge for a header during the clasico on February 3, 2020. Real won the match 2-0 at the Bernabeu. Reuters
    Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos, right, and Sergio Busquets of Barcelona challenge for a header during the clasico on February 3, 2020. Real won the match 2-0 at the Bernabeu. Reuters
  • Real Madrid fans during the match. AFP
    Real Madrid fans during the match. AFP
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after fouling Real Madrid defender Marcelo. EPA
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after fouling Real Madrid defender Marcelo. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior gives his side the lead. EPA
    Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior gives his side the lead. EPA
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after fouling Real Madrid defender Marcelo. Reuters
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after fouling Real Madrid defender Marcelo. Reuters
  • Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos (L) in action against Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann. EPA
    Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos (L) in action against Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Barcelona. AFP
    Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Barcelona. AFP
  • Lionel Messi reacts after Barcelona go 1-0 down to Real Madrid. EPA
    Lionel Messi reacts after Barcelona go 1-0 down to Real Madrid. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior dives over Barcelona's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. AFP
    Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior dives over Barcelona's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos celebrates with fans. AFP
    Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos celebrates with fans. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates. AFP
    Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates. AFP
    Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates. AFP
  • Barcelona's Leo Messi in action against Real Madrid's Marcelo (L) and Raphael Varane (R). EPA
    Barcelona's Leo Messi in action against Real Madrid's Marcelo (L) and Raphael Varane (R). EPA
  • Real Madrid's Dominican forward Mariano Diaz scores his team's second goal. AFP
    Real Madrid's Dominican forward Mariano Diaz scores his team's second goal. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Dominican forward Mariano Diaz scores his team's second goal. EPA
    Real Madrid's Dominican forward Mariano Diaz scores his team's second goal. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz celebrates scoring their second goal with Dani Carvajal. Reuters
    Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz celebrates scoring their second goal with Dani Carvajal. Reuters
  • Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi reacts as Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos celebrates his team's second goal. AFP
    Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi reacts as Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos celebrates his team's second goal. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz (C) celebrates. EPA
    Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz (C) celebrates. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos celebrates their second goal. Reuters
    Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos celebrates their second goal. Reuters
  • Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch at the end of the match. AFP
    Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch at the end of the match. AFP

Coronavirus: Spain suspends La Liga football matches as Real Madrid squad put into quarantine


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

Spain's La Liga and Segunda Division football matches have been suspended for at least two weeks due to coronavirus, the league's organising body said.

The league's statement said the decision came after Real Madrid put its squad into quarantine, and that it had notified the clubs, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and the national sports ministry of the postponements.

"Given the circumstances known this morning, referring to the quarantine established at Real Madrid and the possible positives in players from other clubs, La Liga considers that the circumstances are already in place to continue with the next phase of the protocol of action against Covid-19.

"Consequently, in accordance with the measures established in Royal Decree 664/1997 of May 12, agrees to suspend at least the next two rounds of matches.

"Said decision will be re-evaluated after the completion of the quarantines decreed in the affected clubs and other possible situations that may arise.

"La Liga, as organiser of the competition, has proceeded to communicate it to the RFEF [Royal Spanish Football Federation], the CSD [National Sports Council] and the clubs."

Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that Real Madrid sent all of the members of its football and basketball teams home after one of the sports club's basketball players tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Real, who are due to play Eibar in La Liga on Friday without any spectators, and had already cancelled all pre-game media duties to prevent the spread of the virus, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The two squads share facilities, which have been closed, with Euroleague basketball temporarily suspending all matches until further notice.

Manchester City were due to face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Etihad Stadium next Tuesday. European governing body Uefa confirmed on Thursday that the return leg, where Real trail 2-1, has been postponed.

Real Madrid said in a statement: "Real Madrid reports that a player from our first basketball team has tested positive after testing for the Covid-19 coronavirus.

"Since then, the recommendation has been made to quarantine both the basketball first team and the football first team, given that the two squads share facilities in Madrid.

"Likewise, it has been decided to close the facilities of our sports city and it is also recommended that all Real Madrid personnel who provide their services in Real Madrid City remain in quarantine."

All national league basketball games have also been postponed, Real's statement added.