Coronavirus Outbreak: Portugal approves nine stadiums for league restart, six need improvements

Nine stadiums have passed inspections and been declared ready to host matches when the Portuguese league restarts after the coronavirus stoppage, the league said on Wednesday. [caption id=“attachment_8392571” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Porto’s Estadio do Dragao has been given the permission to host league matches when the Portuguese season resumes. Image: Wikimedia Commons[/caption] A further six need improvements and would be subject to a second inspection by the government’s DGS health directorate, the league added. The home grounds of Vitoria Guimaraes, Tondela, Porto, Sporting, Benfica, Maritimo, Braga and Portimonense were given the green light along with the national team training centre in Lisbon which will also be used for some matches. The DGS said there would have to be “a number of corrections” to the stadiums of Vitoria Setubal, Boavista, Desportivo das Aves, Rio Ave, Gil Vicente and Pacos de Ferreira. The four other teams in the 18-team league did not put their grounds up for inspection. The DGS has said that the minimum possible number of stadiums should be used although this could prove a stumbling block as several clubs have already complained about not being able to play at their home stadiums. Ten rounds of matches will have to be played between 4 June and 26 July to complete the season which has turned into a two-horse race between Porto, who lead with 60 points, and Benfica, who are one point behind. **Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak**