Series A clubs vote to resume season June 13 | Football news

Series A clubs voted to resume the season on June 13, pending approval from the Italian government.

Sixteen Series A clubs voted in favor of the date at a league meeting on Wednesday, while the other four voted to resume the season the following weekend, June 20.

After confirmation by the Italian Minister of Sports Vincenzo Spadafora, the government and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) have agreed on a medical protocol allowing the teams of the Series A to resume group training from 18 may.

However, the protocol means that if a player or staff member tests positive for the coronavirus after May 18, the entire team will have to go through quarantine for 15 days, unlike the Bundesliga model.

"With regard to the resumption of sporting activity, in accordance with the decisions of the government and in accordance with the medical protocols for the protection of the players and all the personnel concerned, the date of June 13 has been indicated for the resumption of the league "said a series A statement on Wednesday.

It is understood that a restart on June 13 would give Italian clubs enough time to end the Serie A season and Coppa Italia, which stopped after the first leg of the two semi-finals, before the UEFA cutoff point. from August 2.

At least 19 Serie A players have tested positive for coronavirus since the league's suspension on March 9, and Fiorentina and Sampdoria reported six and four new cases of virus respectively at their clubs last week.

There are 12 rounds remaining in Serie A and four games which have been carried over from round 25, with Juventus leading the table one point ahead of Lazio.

Analysis: Italian football united in will

Serie A clubs have always been clear about their desire to end the season and Wednesday's vote is another statement that shows that all parties are united and on the same track.

However, the issue was deeply political, and much of the talk focused on adapting a medical protocol to satisfy the government's scientific committee, so that all players and club staff could refocus on football without worrying. by the virus.

The idea behind the approved protocol is to make each club a "safe group" through rigorous and regular testing, starting two weeks before the start of the season, to minimize the risk of exposure.

While this can be a clever approach, questions are asked about how the whole league would fare when a player is positive for COVID-19, given that the whole team should be put in place. quarantine, rather than the individual player as would happen in the Bundesliga.

Another point of contention is responsibility, as the club doctors do not want to be considered the only responsible party if a player has a positive result. In summary, any recovery of series A is in any case linked to security: more guarantees must come directly from the federation.

Now the ball is entirely on the government field, and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte revealed last week that he would collect the football record himself and make a decision based on the curve of the Italian virus. Next week the government will shed light on the thinking process, but Italian football is ready and ready to try.