The resumption of football in Ecuador remains uncertain due to the coronavirus.

Professional League proposes to resume Ecuadorian soccer championship

The League Pro, also known as the Professional League, stated this Monday in a statement released through social media that a new meeting of the Council of Presidents will take place on that date to decide the resumption of the tournament, depending on the pandemic conditions in Ecuador.

The clubs' proposal is to resume the tournament on July 17.

The competition began on February 14 and was suspended on March 15 due to the spread of the coronavirus.

The intention is to continue with the same system, with the participation of the 16 clubs, in two phases, with a total of 30 matchdays, so that the winners of each phase will compete for the title in home and away matches.

If the winner of the first phase also wins the second stage, they will be awarded the title directly.

However, if the pandemic continues until that date, the tournament's playing system will be changed to minimize exposure to players, coaching staff, and referees.

The clubs' proposal is to group themselves into two groups of eight teams, taking into account the proximity of the teams' venues to face each other in home and away matches. The title will be disputed between the top teams of each group or octagonal.

At the end of the season, the clubs with the fewest points will be relegated and replaced by the champion and runner-up of the first division B, which consists of 10 clubs.

If the change in the tournament's playing system is confirmed, the groups have been established as follows: in one group there will be the teams from Quito, Aucas, El Nacional, Independiente del Valle, Liga de Quito, and the teams from Ambato: Macará, Mushuc Runa, and Técnico Universitario.

In the other group, Barcelona, Emelec, Guayaquil City from Guayaquil; Delfín and Liga de Portoviejo from Manabí; Deportivo Cuenca from Cuenca, and Olmedo from Riobamba were ratified.

Meanwhile, the clubs have planned to resume training from June 8, although this will depend on the absence of a potential resurgence of the pandemic.