Football matches in Albania to resume on June 3

Tirana, May 14 (IANS) Football matches of the Superior Category in Albania are to resume on June 3, the Albanian Football Federation (AFF) has said in a statement.The Presidents of the football clubs of the Superior Category and representatives of the AFF held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the starting date of football competition in Albania and the medical protocols be followed due to the coronavirus situation, reports Xinhua news agency.Medical experts of the AFF have prepared a medical protocol after consultation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection."Football matches of the Superior Category will resume on June 3 and end on July 29," the statement said.During the meeting, it was also decided that the final match of the Albanian Cup will take place on August 2.However, the AFF decision needs to get the green light from the Health Ministry for the resumption of the football competition in the country.On March 12, the AFF decided to suspend all football activities across the country after the confirmation of the first coronavirus cases in Albania on March 9.Seventy-eight per cent of the patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Albania have recovered, according to health authorities.Four new coronavirus cases were registered over the last 24 hours, raising the total number of COVID-19 cases in Albania to 880, with 688 recoveries and 31 fatalities, health authorities reported on Wednesday.
--IANS aak/bbh/