Lega Serie A President Paolo Dal Pino warns ‘football is close to an economic catastrophe’ due to COVID-19 and must consider ‘other options’ such as play-offs if the season cannot conclude.
The number of COVID cases is sky-rocketing both in Italy and in the football world, leading to several Serie B games being postponed and concerns the campaign could grind to a halt the way it did in March.
Lega Serie A President Paolo Dal Pino warns ‘football is close to an economic catastrophe’ due to COVID-19 and must consider ‘other options’ such as play-offs if the season cannot conclude.
The number of COVID cases is sky-rocketing both in Italy and in the football world, leading to several Serie B games being postponed and concerns the campaign could grind to a halt the way it did in March.
“Football is first and foremost a primary entertainment industry, a product that competes on a global level,” Dal Pino told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
“This is a phenomenon that brings together the interests of 30 million people. Football is not just stars, champions and multi-million Euro salaries, but a movement that involves 300,000 workers.
“Populism, demagoguery and superficiality in judgment should be cast aside. Football has a universal language, which is why I am asking the Government to consider it as an overall system. Football is close to an economic catastrophe.”
Dal Pino met with the Minister for Sport Vincenzo Spadafora, CONI chief Giovanni Malagò and other Government representatives this week to discuss how to go forward.
“There are three potential solutions,” continued Dal Pino.
“The first is reparations for the damages suffered by football due to the restrictive measures imposed by the Government. The second is asking Ministers if we can work together, because we weren’t even consulted on the wording of the laws to reform sport. Let’s sit down at the table and at least share the process.
“The third option is for politics to pay attention to the value that football provides and that they can’t even seem to imagine: in Italy, it represents a huge social element and method of communication.”
Meanwhile, the Lega Serie B and all Serie B clubs released a statement this morning, and will walk out on to the pitch with a banner that reads: ‘Do not let Italian football die.’