ASUNCION: Alejandro Dominguez, president of South American confederation CONMEBOL, believes that “things will return to normal” after the coronavirus crisis but “it may have to be with empty stadiums.”

The Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana were suspended on March 30. The tournaments are the CONMEBOL equivalents of the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.

Dominguez said: “The Libertadores can start again when the local championships are restarted although transport capacity is also an important issue considering that most countries have closed their borders.”

Some 76 clubs are still involved in the competitions which are scheduled to end in November.

Dominguez added: “It is difficult for me to make an analysis because at the moment we are still quite shocked. I think things will return to normal but it will take time. I, of course, want to see full stadiums, but if the way to recover football again is to play without crowds, it will be so.”

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