ITALIAN sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora has confirmed that Serie A will get back underway behind closed doors on June 20.
Top-flight clubs in Italy resumed contact training this week, having gradually built up from individual drills earlier this month.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co will be back in action next monthCredit: Getty Images – Getty
A ball was last kicked in the Italian top-flight on March 9, when Sassuolo beat Brescia 3-0.
But with the country being devastated by more and more coronavirus cases, Serie A was one of the first major leagues to have to be suspended – with all others soon following suit.
All teams will have either 12 or 13 league games to be completed – with some having been postponed even before the league’s formal suspension as the Lombardy region was struck particularly badly by Covid-19.
As for the title race, Juventus will resume a point above chasers Lazio in top spot, while Inter are nine points back but possessing a game in hand.
Atalanta, hailing from the heart of the Lombardy region, occupy the final Champions League position – three points above fifth-placed Roma.
As for the other end of the table, Brescia and SPAL appear doomed – while Genoa, Sampdoria, Torino and Udinese are all within three points of 18th-placed Lecce.
The Coppa Italia will also be played to a conclusion, with both semi-final second-legs pencilled in for the weekend of June 13-14.
Napoli go into theirs with Inter Milan defending a 1-0 advantage, while Juventus and AC Milan will resume battle after a 1-1 first-leg stalemate.
The FIGC also assured me that the Plan B [play-offs and play-outs] and Plan C [using existing table] can be adopted in case of suspension.
Vincenzo Spadafora
Announcing the news, Spadafora said: “Football was going to restart when we had the right safety conditions and when the CTS would give the go-ahead to the protocols.
“Italy is starting again and it is only right that football should do the same.
“The CTS agreed with the medical protocol, but confirmed the absolute necessity for a quarantine period if a player were to test positive.
“The FIGC also assured me that the Plan B [play-offs and play-outs] and Plan C [using existing table] can be adopted in case of suspension. It is not up to me as sports minister to decide, it will be decided by the FIGC.”
Atalanta currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League positionCredit: AFP – Getty
Serie A has joined the Premier League and LaLiga in announcing their return dates – while the Bundesliga has successfully played out three matchdays since returning earlier this month.
The English top flight will be back on screens on June 17, while LaLiga will kick-off again on June 8.
Top-flights in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scotland, however, have cancelled the rest of their seasons and will not return until 2020-21.
Hamilton Accies show off new disinfectant tunnel in bid to ensure safe return to football in Scotland
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
