Torino players arrive at their training center on May 11, 2020. - Nicolò Campo / Sipa USA / SIPA

The Italian Minister of Sports Vincenzo Spadafora reaffirmed on Wednesday the cautious line of the government as for a possible resumption of the football championship, which will only be "safe, for all". "If the championship resumes, as we all hope, it will be because we will have made this decision after a thoughtful series of actions and protocols allowing to resume in safety, for all," the minister declared before the Senate.

Serie A has been stopped since March 9, on the eve of the start of the confinement imposed until May 4 in Italy to limit the progression of the coronavirus. As of May 4, clubs can organize individual training sessions. From May 18, collective training can resume following a very strict health protocol.

Resumption of training in May, no decision on Serie A via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/8FGV5OVgLw

- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) April 27, 2020

The most delicate point concerns the obligation made to clubs to put their entire workforce in quarantine for 15 days, as well as the staff, as soon as a positive case appears. “Our sport is a contact sport and it is a problem to be solved. The question is not how to treat the sick person, but it is clear that if the whole team has to go to quarantine, there is a problem ", declared Tuesday evening Umberto Calcagno, vice-president of the AIC, the professional players' union.

"Without tifosi, it doesn't make sense to start over"

On this point, the Minister of Sports explained on Wednesday why the case of footballers was in his eyes special, by answering a question about the possible closure of a supermarket in the event of a positive test for an employee. “At the supermarket, it is possible to maintain distances and use protections. Football is by nature a sport where you cannot maintain distances. The players have to run, score, find themselves in the penalty area, ”he said.

For his part, Czech coach Zdenek Zeman, very famous in Italy where he spent most of his career, notably at AS Rome, Pescara or Lazio Rome, said he was opposed to a resumption of competition . "There have been too many deaths. And without tifosi, it does not make sense to start again, "he said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. A possible resumption of the championship would be done behind closed doors.

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  • Sport
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