Lega Serie A have approved a new COVID protocol with games that will go ahead if 13 players are fit.
It’s the same protocol adopted by UEFA for European competition and the 13-player rule was also valid last term in Serie A.
It states that games will go ahead with 13 players, including one goalkeeper.
Clubs can pick players from their first team and Primavera team provided that footballers are born before December 31, 2003, and tested negative at least 24 hours before the game.
If they have 13 or more players available and don’t show up for the game, they’ll lose the game 3-0 by default.
There wasn’t a COVID protocol in place this season as the situation in the country seemed to have improved over the last few months, also thanks to a massive vaccination campaign.
However, a fourth wave with the so-called Omicron variant hit the country in December and almost 90 Serie A players are currently positive for COVID.
Marotta hopes for compulsory COVID vaccine and ‘more clarity’
Torino, Bologna, Salernitana and Udinese have been ordered into quarantine by the local health authorities, but Lega Serie A refused to postpone their matches which will be declared abandoned after 45 minutes.
Hellas Verona have eight players positive for COVID, less than Bologna and Torino, but have been given the green light to play against Spezia today.
That’s why Inter CEO Beppe Marotta called for ‘clearer rules’ as well as an intervention from the Minister of Health.
Follow today’s updates live on the Football Italia liveblog.