HÀ NỘI — Many teams in V.League 1 have returned to training after a week-long break due to the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Monday, HCM City FC, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai and Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh recalled their players to training.

Teams like Becamex Bình Dương, Viettel, Sông Lam Nghệ An, Quảng Ninh Coal, Thanh Hóa and Sài Gòn FC kept training during the break as their facilities had ensured safety measures for COVID-19 prevention.

Even SHB Đà Nẵng and Quảng Nam, two football teams in areas most affected by COVID-19, are planning to call back their players.

Players of both teams will be tested for coronavirus before going back to training.

For some clubs that have not yet set a return date like the defending champions Hà Nội FC, the coaching staffs are still working with their players and sending them online training sessions.

Nguyễn Thanh Sơn, head coach of Becamex Bình Dương, told Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) newspaper that the team has not had too many changes in training and is ready for the restart of the league.

“If the league restarts, we will be ready to play” , Sơn said.

Earlier this week, the Việt Nam Professional Football Joint Stock Company sent plans about restarting professional football to 26 teams in the V.League 1 and V.League 2.

According to the plans, the National Cup will resume on September 5 while the V.League 1 and second tier will be back on September 12, without fans in attendance. — VNS