June 9 – The Italian Serie A Femminile has become the latest European women’s league to be voided after the Italian federation (FIGC) announced that the competition would not be concluded and that no title will be assigned.
Last week, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina promised to commit €700,000 to the 12 Serie A clubs from over €21 million generated by the Calcio Salva fund “for the recovery and completion of the 2019/20 season”, but that financial rescue package was not enough to ensure the final six rounds of the season would be completed.
“We decided, I’m sorry, to suspend the women’s football championship,” said Gravina. “As far as I’m concerned it’s a negative note. It would have been beautiful for the whole movement to give equal dignity to the girls regarding the conclusion at least of the most important championship.”
The clubs held several rounds of meeting to discuss the resumption of play, but failed to come to a consensus. The Association of Italian Players (AIC) rejected a proposal for a final play-off round involving six of the 12 teams to be played on neutral territory, arguing that it would not be fair. Confusion also seemed to reign over medical protocols and training practices.
In a statement, the AIC wrote: “While we waited and worked on a recovery, however, the true reality of our sport also emerged today. The emergency has in fact highlighted all the fragility of a still immature but promising system that has been growing in recent years and that has had to face a dramatic and very serious situation.”
Before the coronavirus shutdown, Juventus enjoyed a nine-point lead at the top of the table, but they won’t be crowned champions – they will still qualify for next season’s Champions League alongside AFC Fiorentina. The club from Florence finished on level points with third-place AC Milan, but a weighted algorithm assigned the second Champions League ticket to Fiorentina based on how many games each team played at home and away, stretching the idea of sporting merit again.
“Unfortunately, despite everything, the positions taken by the clubs have remained highly fragmented and on the footballers’ side there is no clear and compact front in wanting to play today,” said Serie A president Ludovica Mantovani.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713501243labto1713501243ofdlr1713501243owedi1713501243sni@o1713501243fni1713501243