<
>

Coronavirus: Portuguese club Santa Clara forced to train, play homes games 892 miles away

Portuguese club Santa Clara have been forced to train and play home matches 892 miles away due to coronavirus restrictions.

The Primeira Liga side will host their remaining five homes games at the Portuguese Football Federation headquarters.

- Stream new episodes of ESPN FC Monday-Friday on ESPN+
- Stream every episode of 30 for 30: Soccer Stories on ESPN+

A club statement on Tuesday read: "Wherever we play, we will always carry the Azorean people in our hearts and the Azorean flag to our chest, for a more positive Portuguese football."

The decision was made because of the "need to safeguard the public health of the Azoreans," and the journey to the FA headquarters will last more than two hours by plane.

The league season is set resume on June 4 and Santa Clara sit in ninth position in the table with 10 matches to go.

The remainder of the campaign will be played behind closed doors after it was halted on March 12 due to the global outbreak.

Portugal's top division clubs returned to training last week while the second division was cancelled.