Serie A Targets Return in May as FIGC President Asks for Euro 2020 Postponement
The Italian FA have reportedly set their sights set on a return to action on 3 May, as the president of the country's football federation has asked for the postponement of Euro 2020.
Football calendars across Europe and beyond are up in the air due to the COVID-19 crisis, and though Italy has been the worst affected on the continent, sport is at a standstill in England, France, Germany and Spain among other major nations.
UEFA are to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday in which they are expected to discuss the possibility of delaying Euro 2020, to allow domestic leagues to play into the summer and finish their seasons.
In the light of ongoing developments in the spread of Covid-19, UEFA has invited various stakeholders to discuss European football’s response to the outbreak.
— UEFA (@UEFA) March 12, 2020
Discussions will include all domestic and European competitions, including UEFA EURO 2020.
Full statement: 👇
And the president of the Italian Football Federation (the FIGC, as it is known) Gabriele Gravina - who has been vocal about the need to postpone the summer tournament - has said he will ask the governing body to do just that, and ease the pressure on Italian football.
"We will propose to UEFA the delay of the European Championships," Gravina told SportMediaset, as relayed by Sky Sports.
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina insists “Euro 2020 has to be postponed” due to the Coronavirus pandemic, as “the priority is concluding the leagues.” https://t.co/smKL4lPL6Q #Euro2020 #SerieA #EPL #Ligue1 #LaLiga #Bundesliga #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/AfQ21zJ2s4
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) March 14, 2020
"We will try to get to the end of this [domestic] championship because it is fairer and more correct after the many investments and sacrifices of our clubs."
Sky report that Gravina wants the Serie A calendar to conclude by June 30, and that is corroborated by a report by Football Italia which outlines a potential return to action on May 3.
As things stand, Italian domestic football, in line with the rest of the continent, is suspended until April 3, but forecasts at this stage suggest it won't be safe to resume by this point unless there is an unforeseen development in combating the virus.
That could mean Ronaldo, Insigne, Lukaku and Mertens won't be at Euro 2020. https://t.co/pQTiS8qLd4
— 90min (@90min_Football) March 15, 2020
Sourcing La Repubblica, the website notes that the suspension is likely to be extended by a further month, with a view to action resuming on May 3, with players returning to training two weeks earlier.
The desire to get the season finished by the end of June is due to the further complication of contract expiry dates. Many existing deals have June 30 expiry dates, so concluding the season after that would represent another logistical nightmare.
Should Euro 2020 go ahead as planned, there have been suggestions that Serie A could ban players from participating in order to get their domestic season finished this summer.