Italian FA Propose 'Play-Off Games' to Decide League Title as Part of Coronavirus Measures

​The Italian football association (FIGC) have proposed having play-off matches to decide the Serie A title and relegation candidates in the event of more measures being imposed to counter the coronavirus outbreak.

Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte has already confirmed domestic football has been suspended due to the outbreak, describing the decision as 'sacrificing something for the good of all of Italy'.

Questions have now turned onto what could happen to the rest of the campaign, and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina says the league could be decided by play-off games later in the year, just before this summer's European championships are due to start.

"If the COVID-19 emergency should not allow for the conclusion of the league competitions, President Gravina put forward some proposals that will be discussed in another meeting on March 23," Gravina's statement read, quoted by Football Italia.

"Without any order of priority, an option would be not assigning the Scudetto and consequently informing UEFA of the teams qualified for Europe.

"Another would be referring to the table as it stands up until the moment the season was interrupted.

"A third and final hypothesis would be to organise play-offs for the title of Champion of Italy and play-outs to decide relegation into Serie B."

Domestic football in Italy has already been postponed, and football elsewhere on the continent is now catching up with counter-measures to the coronavirus outbreak.

Some Champions League games in midweek - including Tuesday's second leg between Valencia and Atalanta - will be played behind closed doors, while games in the Bundesliga and La Liga will follow suit.

There have also been suggestions that Euro 2020 itself could be pushed back to next year following the coronavirus outbreak, but UEFA so far haven't received any requests by any national football associations.

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