Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 4y

Sources: Liga MX mulls closed-doors July restart

MEXICO CITY -- Liga MX is hoping to restart the 2020 Clausura behind closed doors in early July, although a decision will not be taken until the second week of May, sources have told ESPN's Omar Flores and Rene Tovar.

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Liga MX is expected to use Mexico's school system as a barometer, with the return of football unlikely to happen before the federal government gives the green light for schools to re-open, according to the sources.

No final decision has been made, but the plans are in line with health authority predictions that the peak of the coronavirus crisis in Mexico will come between May 8 and 10, with government models predicting the number of cases should decline after that, as long as people observe the quarantine.

There have been 22,088 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,061 deaths in Mexico, according to government stats from May 2.

The top division in the Netherlands, France and Argentina have all been canceled, but Liga MX president Enrique Bonilla has been adamant in interviews that the 2020 Clausura will be played in full, with seven rounds of the regular season plus the playoffs to go before a new champion is crowned.

The start of the Liga MX's 2020 Apertura, penciled in to begin in July, would be put back, but could be finished on time if there is a reduction in the number of International breaks between now and the end of 2020.

Mexico's first division was suspended on March 15 after 10 rounds of matches in the Clausura. Since then, the Ascenso MX season has been canceled and promotion and relegation from the country's top two divisions has been suspended for six years, following a vote in the Mexican federation.

The 2020 Clausura Liga MX youth seasons (Under-20s, Under-17s) have been replaced by a cup competition to take place at a future date, although the Liga MX Femenil is only suspended to date.

Liga MX president Enrique Bonilla contracted coronavirus COVID-19 on March 20, but has since made a full recovery.

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