Singapore Premier League to resume on Oct. 17

(Reuters) - Singapore's top-flight soccer league will resume on Oct. 17 in a condensed format after an extended stoppage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said.

The Singapore Premier League (SPL) was suspended in March but teams began training in small groups in June. Full training resumed last month.

To ensure the season is completed by the end of the year, teams will face each other only twice, down from the usual three round of fixtures. The Singapore Cup has also been cancelled to help the league's completion.

The FAS said a total of 223 players and match officials had tested negative for coronavirus ahead of the season's restart.

The campaign will resume with Tanjong Pagar United hosting Balestier Khalsa at Jurong East Stadium while league-leaders Tampines Rovers play Hougang United at Our Tampines Hub on Saturday. All games will be played behind closed doors.

(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)