Torino President Urbano Cairo believes the Serie A season will resume ‘on either June 13 or 20,’ but is concerned at how it’ll affect 2020-21 and condemns the play-offs idea.
The Government, Lega Serie A and FIGC finally agreed on a medical protocol for group training, so on May 28 should set the date for games to resume.
Torino President Urbano Cairo believes the Serie A season will resume ‘on either June 13 or 20,’ but is concerned at how it’ll affect 2020-21 and condemns the play-offs idea.
The Government, Lega Serie A and FIGC finally agreed on a medical protocol for group training, so on May 28 should set the date for games to resume.
“It seems to me that the date has been decided, it’s either June 13 or 20, and the protocol is ready too,” Cairo told Rai Radio 1.
“However, there’s a very high risk players will get injured when they’ve been out of action for two-and-a-half months. At this moment, they have to be wary and football is a contact sport.”
The plan is to finish Serie A by the end of July and begin Champions League and Europa League fixtures in August.
“I voted like all the other Serie A clubs to resume the season, but I still have a few doubts. If we go forward until August 20, dedicating all our energy and focus to this season, what do we do in the next?
“Players need at least two to three weeks of vacation and then another month of pre-season training to be ready. That means if the current campaign ends on August 20, the next can’t begin until October 20, and then there’s the Euros next summer too. It seems complicated to me…”
The FIGC also ruled that if the season cannot be completed normally, there can be play-offs and play-outs to decide the Scudetto, European places and relegation.
“If we cannot resume the regular season, how are we supposed to stage play-offs and play-outs? It doesn’t make any sense,” protested Cairo.
“If we stop, it’s because we cannot continue playing matches in safety, and surely that includes play-offs.”