The confusion over COVID-19 protocols continues to grow, as while Napoli and Verona travel potentially wearing masks on the pitch, Torino and Salernitana are ordered into quarantine, putting their games with Atalanta and Venezia in doubt.
The Lega Serie A protocol rules that teams should still play as long as they have at least 13 available players, including one goalkeeper.
However, the local health authority (ASL) for that region can over-rule them and order entire squads into quarantine or ban them from travelling via public transport.
The problem is that each city has its own ASL and they all seem to be interpreting the data in their own individual ways.
The latest Government decree removes the quarantine process for anyone who has received their vaccine booster shot or recovered from COVID within the last 120 days.
For those who are double-jabbed within the last 120 days, they do not need to quarantine either, but must self-monitor for five days and wear masks at all times for 10 days.
Does this mean players without a booster must wear masks while playing football? That is not clear and the confusion remains.
Meanwhile, the ASL from different cities are further confusing matters because Napoli and Verona have been allowed to travel despite numerous COVID-19 cases.
Napoli have seven cases (five players) and Verona have 10 (eight players).
However, Salernitana were ordered to quarantine for 10 days, while today it’s reported the ASL in Turin has banned Torino from travelling for the game against Atalanta in Bergamo.
Toro have five players and two members of staff testing positive.
Udinese also cancelled their flight to Florence for this afternoon, awaiting news from the ASL after they saw seven players and two members of staff test positive.
Meanwhile, Juventus confirm Arthur Melo has now tested negative and is available to face Napoli tomorrow.
📃 I convocati di #JuveNapoli
💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/7fhUXtcnnj
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) January 5, 2022
So much for resuming league play this week…was looking forward to watching some games. I hope the players and staff make it through okay.