Saudi Professional League decides provisional return date ahead of key meeting

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  • Bafetimbi Gomis (r) (EPA).

    A provisional date of August 20 has been set for the 2019/20 Saudi Professional League’s resumption ahead of an urgent meeting to clarify details, confirming a five-month hiatus because of coronavirus.

    All sporting activities in the Kingdom were halted on March 14 in a bid to curb the pandemic’s spread. This followed a call seven days prior to play match-week 22 behind closed doors.

    Officials from the Saudi Arabian Football Association and top flight will meet at 22:00 (KSA) on Thursday to discuss how the resumption is managed and scenarios in the event that the proposals cannot be actioned, according to Arriyadiyah.

    Saudi Arabia has announced 42,925 positive tests and 264 deaths since March 2’s first case. This week has witnessed a full lockdown announced for Eid holidays from May 23-27 and an austerity drive worth, approximately, 100 billion riyals enacted.

    “The Saudi Professional League will hold during the coming days an urgent meeting for its members, in the presence of Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser Al Mishal, to discuss the appropriate mechanism for the Saudi Professional League’s resumption and the best available solutions that are compatible with the current conditions,” a statement released by the SPL late on Tuesday night read.

    “The most important is setting August 20 as an initial date for the league’s return. Setting the proposed scenarios in the event that they are not suitable, will also feature.

    “This will require approval from the stakeholders concerned with following coronavirus developments and solutions will be put in place in the event of excluding playing the league at this time.”

    Further talks will also be centred on how the game is officiated.

    The statement continued: “Members will discuss the possibility of a return of local arbitration teams, plus dispensing with the use of assistive video technology (VAR etc).”

    Al Hilal hold a six-point lead over second-placed Al Nassr, with eight fixtures remaining. Al Adalah, Damac and Al Fateh sit in the relegation zone.

    Meanwhile, Sports minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al Faisal has declared there will be no changes to the SPL’s foreign quota.

    A reduction from the current seven has been floated in order to cut costs. But Prince Abdul Aziz stated the significant financial losses required make the idea unfeasible at this time, according to Arriyadiyah.

    The SPL’s 16 teams will also be allowed six weeks to prepare their players once a definitive date is settled.

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