With training expected to resume on May 4, Serie A should start playing games on May 31 and finish by July 12, leaving the Champions League and Europa League until later, it’s reported.
The lockdown order in Italy was extended to May 3, as while new cases and intensive care admissions continue to drop, the death rate remains relatively steady at 550-600 every day.
It seems increasingly likely that players will be allowed to train from May 4, split into different groups to allow for social distancing.
With training expected to resume on May 4, Serie A should start playing games on May 31 and finish by July 12, leaving the Champions League and Europa League until later, it’s reported.
The lockdown order in Italy was extended to May 3, as while new cases and intensive care admissions continue to drop, the death rate remains relatively steady at 550-600 every day.
It seems increasingly likely that players will be allowed to train from May 4, split into different groups to allow for social distancing.
In fact, the Corriere dello Sport suggests that clubs will try to get permission from April 27 to begin intensive physical and medical tests, so they can ensure that players are safe and healthy.
This would allow for three to four weeks of training, at which point the players would be ready to get back on the field for the weekend of May 30-31.
There are two options for Europe’s leagues going forward, as they could either play all their remaining fixtures and finish in mid-July, or play with the Champions League and Europa League ties in the same timeframe.
According to Calciomercato.com, the former is becoming more and more likely, leaving UEFA until July to work out completing their tournaments.
As the domestic leagues are more complex and have so much more riding on them, they will be given the priority.
If Serie A did resume on May 31 and was played every three days, the season would be over by July 12.
UEFA have floated the idea of a Final Four or even Final Eight tournament in a neutral venue to work out the Champions League and Europa League winners.
The Coppa Italia is also midway through the semi-finals, but that could even be delayed until next season.