“The return of football represents a message of hope for the entire country. I’m happy and satisfied, it’s a success that we share with the Minister for Sport, Vincenzo Spadafora, and all of the Federation’s components. Our project is one of great responsibility, because it encompasses the whole of the professional game in Italy: Serie A, B and C, and hopefully the women’s Serie A too.”

This is what President Gabriele Gravina had to say on the resumption of football in Italy, as confirmed in an announcement by Minister Spadafora following the conclusion of today’s meeting with the FIGC and its components. “I spoke to the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, who welcomes the fact that a solution has been found that all parties agree with.”

The Minister announced that Serie A will resume on 20 June, while it is hoped that the Coppa Italia will be played the week before: “The meeting with all the components, who I’d like to thank for their cooperation, was a very useful one. Italy is getting back on its feet and it’s only right that football does so too, because all the conditions to ensure safety are present and the Scientific Technical Committee (CTS) has given the all-clear. The CTS has confirmed the absolute necessity for a team to spend a period in quarantine if a player tests positive for the coronavirus. We also received guarantees that the swab process undertaken by clubs will not affect or detract from the general population’s access to testing in any way.”

“Should the rate of COVID-19 infection start to increase again, something that we are hoping won’t happen, activities will have to be suspended once more,” Spadafora underlined. “However, the FIGC has assured me that a Plan B and a Plan C are in place where either play-offs and play-outs or the existing table will be used.”