April 27 – Italy, the worst hit country in Europe by Covid-19, has given the green light for Serie A clubs to return to individual training on May 4 and team training on May 18 after prime minister Giuseppe Conte announced the first tentative steps in lifting the country’s harsh coronavirus restrictions.
Serie A has been suspended since March 9 when the government ordered a nationwide lockdown. But with much of Europe hoping to resume playing games at some point in the summer, albeit behind closed doors, a period of training is essential.
Twelve rounds remain in Serie A, plus four other games that were postponed. The Italian Cup was suspended after the first leg of the semi-finals.
The latest move means that Serie A could potentially resume playing games in June, though Conte said a decision on that will not be made until a later date. The Italian FA (FIGC) has already said it would push back the formal end of the season from June 30 to August 2 to allow time for remaining games to be completed.
May 4 is also the date in Italy when public parks will re-open and people will be able to visit relatives who live in the same region.
“Minister for Sport, Vincenzo Spadafora, will work alongside experts and the football league system to find a path that we have already started to define with individual training from May 4 and group sessions from May 18,” Conte said during a televised address to the nation on Sunday night.
“We will then evaluate if the conditions are in place to be able to complete the suspended leagues. If we do reach that conclusion, we’ll certainly do so while guaranteeing maximum safety measures. We love our footballing idols and don’t want them to get ill.”
Unlike in England, where outdoor exercise has been allowed, Italy has been in full lockdown and Conte cautioned: “If people do not follow the new measures the curve of contagion can rise again, it will go out of control, deaths will climb and we will have irreparable damage to the economy.”
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