This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
Italy's sports minister, Vincenzo Spadafora, has expressed concerns about the possibility of setting a date for the return of Serie A football action amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking in the Italian parliament on May 6, 2020, Spadafora emphasized the need for caution, stating, 'We all hope that the championships can resume regularly, at the same time today it is impossible to set a certain date.'
He attributed this uncertainty to the ongoing pandemic, which has claimed over 29,000 lives in Italy, and the need to wait for data on the curve of contagions in the next two weeks.
Italian football has been on hold since March 10, with players only recently allowed to return to individual training in team sports centers. However, group training is still not permitted, with the earliest date set for May 18.
Spadafora's comments come as the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) prepares to meet the government's Technical Scientific Committee to discuss the medical protocol for group training.
He expressed frustration with the pressure to resume football, stating, 'The idea of establishing now the date of resumption of the championship contrasts with the need to define the steps based on the trend of the data.'
Other European countries, such as France and the Netherlands, have already ended their seasons, while Germany's Bundesliga has been given the green light to restart behind closed doors from mid-May.
