In Italy, time running out for Serie A return

Italian government has ruled out team training before May 18, leaving Serie A chiefs with ir backs against wall if y are to finish a season interrupted by coronavirus crisis. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Sunday delayed a decision on restarting football despite allowing top athletes to resume training in a week's time. From next Monday, individual athletes will be able to resume training.

Time running out for Serie A return

But for team sports, in particular football, it remains a waiting game, in a championship suspended since March 9. So, while cyclist Vincenzo Nibali will be able to resume his usual training, Cristia Ronaldo of Juventus will t. Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora was cautious, warning: "It's t a given that football will resume." 

"On May 18? We will see, for team sports, such as football, rigid safety protocols are needed," Spadafora told Italian television.

Spadafora spoke of "shortcomings" in health and safety protocol presented last week by Italian football federation (FIGC) officials. FIGC president Gabriele Gravina insisted Monday y were "working to restart football safely", warning of dam t finishing season would entail. "We're working tirelessly to define best conditions for completion of suspended championships, responsibly planning all steps to be taken, but also to define various scenarios," said Gravina.

For Italian sports press government's anuncement was "a cold shower" in words of Turin-based Tuttosport.

"Two-speed recovery," wrote Gazzetta dello Sport of pushing a decision on team sports back, while Corriere dello Sport branded it "a joke".

Lazio sports director Igli Tare said football clubs felt like y were being "discriminated" against. Roman club are second in Serie A just one point behind leaders Juventus and within sight of a first league title since 2000. "It is news that I did t expect," said Lazio midfielder Marco Parolo. "I don't understand why we footballers with a suitable sports centre can't resume our sessions rmally. "You can go running in parks, but it doesn't make sense if I have a suitable sports centre to do it. "Formello (Lazio's training centre) is equipped with five pitches. By splitting up, we can avoid contact and we can vary schedules of individual sessions," he said. "We respect indications of government but all conditions are re to be able to resume training safely." Italian football chiefs had already pushed back end of Serie A season from June 30 to August 2.

FIGC's objective of a return to competition in early June has become impracticable, shifting date towards June 10-14. With at least three weeks of preparation needed, and, in some cases, 13 rounds to be played, beyond mid-June it would be impossible to play all remaining matches. Ar solution being touted would be a play-off to allocate Scudetto and qualifying places for European competition and relegation places.

"This yes, I would accept it," Lazio president Claudio Lotito told La Repubblica.

Any change of format would have to be communicated to European football governing body UEFA by May 25 at latest.

Serie A's 20 clubs have voted unanimously to complete league season, but final decision will be down to government.

But in a football-mad country clubs may t be able to count on support of a public grieving over 27,000 dead.

Recent polls have suggested that two-thirds of Italians are opposed to a return to pitch. 

Im credits: AP