La Liga still targets June 12 restart despite eight new coronavirus cases

Clubs are returning to training under strict protocols as Javier Tebas insists cancelling the season is out of the question

Lionel Messi with the ball during a training session at Joan Gamper sports city in Barca returned to training after 56 days in lockdown, All pictures AFP/FC Barcelona

Barcelona's Spanish coach Quique Setien wearing a face mask as he takes training

Spanish defender Junior Firpo gives a thumbs-up during the training session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi

Spanish defender Jordi Alba

German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen

Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal

French defender Samuel Umtiti

Spanish defender Sergi Roberto

Barcelona's Gerard Pique runs with the ball

Barcelona's head coach Quique Setien

Luis Suarez on the run

Leo Messi at the training session

Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong

Barca defender Gerard Pique

Barcelona's French forward Antoine Griezmann

Spain's La Liga is still targeting June 12 to restart the season, despite five players from the top two divisions testing positive for the coronavirus in recent days.

La Liga president Javier Tebas was speaking just hours after the latest positive tests were revealed, and he confirmed that three non-playing staff had also tested positive.

Professional football in Spain has taken steps toward a return as players return to their clubs' training grounds to participate in individual sessions following the Spanish government's gradual easing of lockdown restrictions. However, while Tebas is hopeful the season can restart next month, it will depend on the approval of the authorities.

"I would like it [the season resuming] to be June 12, but it will depend on the numbers," Tebas told Movistar. "In the end it will be up to the health authorities. They explain what can be done. We do not rush, we are not the ones who decide the phases."

Despite Sunday's announcement of more positive tests, Tebas insisted Spain was on the right track for a speedy resumption of the sport.

"It is less than we expected. We expected 25 or 30, according to the numbers seen in the Bundesliga and the potency of the virus in Spain.

"Out of 2,500 individuals only eight positives. And the players already are in the final phase of the disease and this week they will be tested again."

Tebas said that when the competition restarts, players will be tested 24 hours beforehand.

"In the match environment, infection is practically impossible because we have carried out a study that we will present that shows the smallest risk is in matches if everyone respects the medical protocol.

"If things are done as they should be, there shouldn't be any infections. If five infected appear in one club, it would suggest some negligence."

Players in Spain's top-flight and Segunda division were allowed to carry out individual work at training grounds last week.

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Leganes manager Javier Aguirre. Getty

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The move was the beginning of a staggered training programme with the aim to restart competitive games in the middle of June.

La Liga insist identifying infected players through positive tests are part of that plan.

The five players, who have not been officially named, will now be quarantined at home and tested again "in the next few days".

They will be allowed to rejoin their club's training programme only after obtaining two consecutive negative test results.

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 and includes 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. At the end of training, they take away a bag of fresh kit for the next day and shower at home.

When the competition restarts, matches are expected to be staged behind closed doors for several months.

Tebas said "it is not an option" to cancel the top flight given he estimates the economic fallout would cost clubs around €1 billion (Dh4bn).

But the third and fourth tiers in Spain will not complete their seasons, as confirmed by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Wednesday. Instead, promotions will be decided through play-offs and there will be no relegations.