As the FIGC fights to resume Serie A football in May, we assess the state of play in the other top European competitions.
The FIGC is pushing through with plans for training to start again on May 4, when Italy is expected to begin easing its coronavirus response, with a view to recommencing fixtures by early June.
As the FIGC fights to resume Serie A football in May, we assess the state of play in the other top European competitions.
The FIGC is pushing through with plans for training to start again on May 4, when Italy is expected to begin easing its coronavirus response, with a view to recommencing fixtures by early June.
As for the other top European leagues, the Premier League announced yesterday it was committed to completing the season, although a date for its return has not been discussed.
In Germany, Bundesliga clubs including Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have already resumed training in small groups, but no games will be played until at least April 30.
La Liga sides, meanwhile, will not return to training until the emergency measures in Spain are lifted.
Although La Liga President Javier Tebas has mentioned May 28 as the earliest start date, the Spanish FA has already confirmed plans to send Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Real Sociedad to the Champions League next season, based on current league positions.
Ligue 1, like Serie A, could restart in early June, although L’Equipe claims June 17 is more realistic.
What is a given, however, is that those five leagues will be contested behind closed doors if they resume.
UEFA has also made it clear that it is in favour of the season being fulfilled, with President Aleksander Ceferin threatening consequences for leagues that terminate now.
To get around the problem of fixture congestion, there could be a Final Eight format to determine the winners of the 2019-20 Champions League and Europa League.