Uruguayan football to return in August

MONTEVIDEO - Uruguay's top football division will restart in August following its coronavirus-enforced stoppage, a government body said on Monday.

Matches will resume behind closed doors on August 15, more than four months after the season was halted as COVID-19 became a global pandemic.

A statement issued by the Uruguayan sports secretariat, an arm of the health ministry, said it approved sanitary protocols proposed by the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF).

The guidelines include a timetable for regular testing of players, coaches, staff and match officials.

The AUF has said that it hopes all clubs will resume training by June 15.

Uruguay's first division was halted on March 13, two days after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Rentistas lead the Liga Uruguaya Apertura standings with three wins from as many matches, four points ahead of second-placed Progreso.

Uruguay has reported 845 coronavirus cases, 23 of which have been fatal, according to government statistics.