Serie A commits to finishing season after virus lockdown

Brescia, Torino, Sampdoria, Udinese, Spal, Genoa and Sardinian club Cagliari do not want to play because of "incalculable risk" of restarting

Italy’s Serie A said on Monday that it was committed to finishing the season despite reports that seven clubs were against a return amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"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 football league said.

It said any resumption would take place "in accordance with regulations laid out by Fifa and Uefa" and the Italian Football Federation, and "in compliance with medical protocols to protect the players".

Brescia, Torino, Sampdoria, Udinese, Spal, Genoa and Cagliari clubs think it is too risky to restart the league this season, Italian media reported.

Six of those clubs are in the north of Italy, which has been worst affected by the virus.

Covid-19 has killed more than 24,000 people in the country.

No games have been played in Italy since March 9 and the country will remain in lockdown until at least May 3

Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora will meet with Italian federation officials midweek, but he said he was not sure that Serie A teams could 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," Mr Spadafora told Tg2 Post.

"Sport is not just football and it is not only Serie A. 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 was Serie A's representative on the Italian federation's medical commission, resigned on Monday.

Dr Tavana was appointed to the commission to help design the protocol for the resumption of football.

Updated: April 20, 2020, 10:53 PM