'Impossible to set date' for Serie A return, says sports minister

Italy's sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora warned Wednesday that it was impossible to set a date for a return to Serie A action as country grapples with coronavirus pandemic. "We all hope that championships can resume regularly, at same time today it is impossible to set a certain date," Spadafora said during question time in Italian parliament. "We must wait for data on curve of contagions in next two weeks, since only two days ago country started gradual phase of reopening. "Only n will government be able to decide." Italian football has been on hold since March 10 amid COVID-19 pandemic which has killed more than 29,000 people in Italy.

'Impossible to set date'

Players have been allowed to return to individual training in team sports centres this week but must wait until May 18 at earliest to be allowed to train as a group. On Thursday, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) will meet government's Technical Scientific Committee to discuss medical protocol for group training. "We hope hearing will give green light for team training sessions, considering also that football does t allow for safety distances or use of personal protective equipment," continued Spadafora.

minister said pressure to resume football was "quite incomprehensible in eyes of millions of Italians worried about ir health and ir work".

" idea of establishing w date of resumption of championship contrasts with need to define steps based on trend of data," he added.

"I remind you that for moment only certain dates are for those countries that have decided to block championships." 

France and Nerlands have ended ir seasons but on Wednesday Germany's Bundesliga got green light to restart behind closed doors from mid-May. European federations have a deadline of May 25 to inform UEFA if ir league will resume, and if so on what date and with what format.

Im credits: AP