Serie A insisted Monday that they were committed to finishing the season despite reports seven clubs are against a return to action as the coronavirus pandemic continues to afflict Italy.
“The Lega Serie A
Council that met today unanimously confirmed its intention to complete the
2019-2020 season, if the government allows it to take place,” Italy’s top
flight said in a statement
It added that any
resumption will take place “in accordance with regulations laid out by FIFA and
UEFA” and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), and “in compliance with
medical protocols to protect the players”.
Brescia, Torino,
Sampdoria, Udinese, SPAL, Genoa and Sardinian outfit Cagliari do not want to
play because of the “incalculable risk” of restarting, according to reports in
Italy.
Six of those clubs
are situated in the north of Italy which has been hardest hit by a virus which
has killed over 24,000 people.
No football has
been played in Italy since March 9 with the current lockdown measures in the
country extended to May 3.
Sports minister
Vincenzo Spadafora will meet with FIGC officials midweek, but he warned he was
not sure that Serie A teams can even resume training.
“I am not giving
any assurances for the start of the championship or training on May 4, if the
conditions for the country do not exist beforehand,” Spadafora told Tg2 Post.
“Sport is not just
football and it is not only Serie A,” he added.
“I will evaluate
very carefully, but this must not create the illusion that resuming training
means resuming the championship.”
Meanwhile, Torino’s
team doctor Rodolfo Tavana, who held the position of the Serie A’s
representative on the FIGC’s medical commission, resigned on Monday.
Tavana was
appointed to the commission to help formulate the protocol for the resumption
of football.