Possibility of Super League resuming on June 14
There is a plan in place for the 2019/2020 Super League season to resume on June 14 and end on July 29, with the head of the Health Committee expressing his belief that it will be safe enough to play.
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Since the first half of March, all football in Greece has been suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but the situation is now starting to move in the right direction with teams having already resumed training sessions at their respective bases. Head of the Super League Health Committee, Xenofon Roussis, today confirmed to Sport FM-94.6 that he feels it will be safe to stage matches again from June 14:
“First of all, the health of players must be ensured,” stated Roussis. “I think that teams will be able to train in their normal groups by the end of May. I estimate that it will take four weeks in total for the players to be ready for games again, so I feel that it will be safe enough to start the playoffs on June 14.”
Roussis also revealed the protocol if a player is diagnosed with COVID-19: “My opinion is that the individual player should be quarantined, while the rest of the team continue training as normal. The whole process shouldn’t be ruined because of just the one case. This view also exists in Germany.”
Furthermore, Roussis mentioned the cost of regularly testing players for the coronavirus, expressing the need to find a solution to the problem: “This is an issue which I spoke about at the last video conference. The tests cost 120 euros per player, a significant amount of money because we are talking about 60 people in each club. We have also spoken about the antibody tests, which only cost 20 euros. A solution must be found, because the cost will be a financial burden for the majority of teams.”
According to several reports, the Super League championship playoffs and relegation playouts will subsequently be completed on July 29, with two matchdays set to be played per week on Wednesdays and Sundays. 10 rounds will be staged in the playoffs and seven in the playouts.
The second leg of the Greek Cup semi-finals must also be held before the grand final takes place. AEK (2-1) and PAOK (3-2) hold leads over Aris and Olympiacos respectively after the first matches.
Moreover, there is the possibility that the Super League 2 will commence on June 14 too. Two rounds of the regular season and the playoffs in their entirety need to be played.
It’s also worth remembering that the club in 13th place of the Super League is due to play against the team in second position of the Super League 2 in a relegation/promotion playoff.
All Super League teams, including Panathinaikos who were initially against the 2019/2020 season resuming, are now in agreement that the campaign should successfully be completed.
