The Federation announces that the Playoffs will be behind closed doors

The Federation has communicated to the clubs what the organization and celebration of the Playoffs for promotion to Second and Second B will be like in this season finale. He has done so by means of a circular in which he has made it clear that all matches will be played without an audience and behind closed doors. The RFEF explained that the decision has been adopted “in accordance with the recommendations of the Public Administrations”.

Remember that the Playoff promotion to Second will be held on July 18, 19, 23 and 26 in La Rosaleda, Nuevo Mirador de Algeciras, Municipal de Marbella, Centro Deportivo Marbella Fútbol Center and Ciudad de Málaga. The promotion to 2nd B, like the rest of competitions, will be held in the different autonomous communities.

The full statement is as follows:

“By means of this informative Circular, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) wishes to make the following questions in relation to the organization and holding of the Express Playoffs of the official state-level football competitions known to all levels and affiliates:

1.- PLAYOFF EXPRESS OF ASCENT TO SECOND DIVISION A.

In accordance with the recommendations issued by the competent Public Administrations in relation to the Covid-19 and the possible authorization to hold sports competitions with the presence of the public, the Express Playoffs for promotion to the Second Division A National League Championship will be held without the presence of the public and behind closed doors.

In this sense, it must be taken into account that said Express Playoff has the participation of 16 Clubs from different Autonomous Communities, so if the competition is held with the assistance of the public, Thousands of fans of said clubs would take place throughout Spain, with the intention of attending the aforementioned meetings.

This circumstance, in light of the very negative experiences recently occurred in sports competitions held with the public in other countries, would be likely to provoke a whole series of crowds of people of very diverse geographical origin that may have a negative impact on the necessary control of activities that may facilitate outbreaks of Covid-19; danger that, for the benefit of all Spanish society, should be avoided.

Therefore, the RFEF, in its capacity as responsible for the celebration and proper organization of said competition, in accordance with the aforementioned recommendations of the Public Administrations and in order to guarantee the health of Spanish citizens has decided to hold this competition behind closed doors, in accordance, in addition, with the decisions adopted at the time by its governing bodies and the provisions of the applicable federal legal regime.

2.- EXPRESS PLAYOFF OF THE REMAINING STATE-FIELD COMPETITIONS.

The celebration of the rest of official football competitions at the state level organized by the RFEF It will be carried out without the presence of the public and behind closed doors, in accordance with the meaning of section 1 above.

With regard to the official competitions at the state level whose organization is delegated by the RFEF to the Territorial Federations, article 9 of the Statutes, this Royal Federation has had knowledge, through the media, that an express Playoff will be organized and held in a certain Territorial Federation with the presence of the public. Given this situation, and in accordance with the meaning of section 1 above, the RFEF continues to understand that it would be advisable for all the Express Playoff matches to be held behind closed doors, in order to avoid the possible outbreaks of the Covid-19 to which a specific reference has been made previously that occurred in other recently held sports competitions, as well as other outbreaks of the virus that arose on the occasion of events in which a large number of people have attended.

In this sense, the RFEF wishes to attract attention to its Territorial Federations Regarding the special need, given the exceptional circumstances that we are experiencing at the current date of all known, to maintain and try to use all possible efforts in the fight against Covid-19, as it was carried out at the time, Being a pioneering sports entity in suspending all official football competitions at the state level.

The RFEF considers that it is necessary to continue working on the completion of the sports competitions of this season as soon as possible. and with the maximum health and safety guarantees for all people, in order to contribute to definitively overcome this pandemic. The sooner this exceptional situation is left behind, the sooner we can recover the new normality in Spanish soccer, trusting that, for the next sports season, the fans can return to the soccer fields as soon as possible and totally safely.

For all these reasons, the RFEF informs that, respecting the competences of each one of the Territorial Federations, any consequences of a very diverse nature, both health, legal, security or public order that may be derived from the organization and celebration of Official football competitions by the Territorial Federations with the presence of the public, will be the exclusive responsibility of these. “