Spanish league propose new fixture arrangement
The Spanish Football League (LFP) has put forward a new proposal to FIFA in an attempt to solve the end-of-season fixtures congestion that is threatening to disrupt the remainder of the Primera Liga.
The Spanish Football League (LFP) has put forward a new proposal to FIFA in an attempt to solve the end-of-season fixtures congestion that is threatening to disrupt the remainder of the Primera Liga.
Spain's football authorities have been struggling to reach an agreement on how to accommodate the rescheduled match between Sevilla and Barcelona which was postponed on April 23 due to a water-logged pitch because both teams are involved in European finals.
They originally wanted to extend the season by a week and play the final round of matches on May 20, but the proposal was rejected by FIFA because it contravened an agreement to release players involved in the World Cup by May 15.
FIFA suggested playing the Sevilla - Barcelona match on May 20 without any players involved in the World Cup, but Spanish clubs said that this gave the Andalucian side, who could still qualify for the Champions League, an unfair advantage.
The LFP took legal action in a Zurich court in an attempt to overturn the FIFA decision, but in the wake of the results of last weekend's league matches they have now put forward a new proposal.
They suggest splitting the final two rounds of league matches into two groups, with Sevilla - Barcelona taking place this weekend as well as all those games that do not affect the Champions League places.
Sevilla's match against Real Madrid match and the Osasuna - Valencia game will then be played on Tuesday May 16, the eve of the Champions League final so that international players can be released the following day.
The remaining game between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona would then be played on May 20 without internationals because there is no longer anything at stake in that match.
The LFP said they would give FIFA until 1500 GMT on Tuesday to accept the proposal.
They added that if their idea received a negative response then Sevilla would play Barcelona on Friday May 12, the final round of games would take place on May 13 and 14 and Bilbao would host Barcelona on May 20.