Italian Serie A clubs get govt’s permission to resume training Monday

Italian Serie A clubs will resume training on Monday amid the coronavirus pandemic, as the government has given them permission.

The league, as well as other sporting activities, has been suspended since 9 March after the outbreak of the disease, which has killed many and forced the country to be on lockdown.

In its move to begin to lift the lockdown, the Italian government has declared that by 4th May, citizens can exercise in parks and athletes involved in individual sport can begin training, as well as team sports.

While some leagues in Europe have already ended prematurely, the Italian top-flight looks likely to resume the 2019-20 campaign after all 20 clubs had voted in favour of doing so.

Read Also: COVID-19: Italian Serie A clubs vote to continue season, await govt’s permission

The leagues in England, Germany and Spain are also exploring the possibility of returning soon.

Meanwhile, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, has warned against ending the season prematurely, insisting it would kill the sport in the country.

“As long as I’m president of the FIGC, I’ll never sign off stopping the season because that would be the death of Italian football,” Gravina said this week in a virtual meeting with Serie B team Ascoli.

“I’m protecting the interests of everyone so, I repeat, I refuse to sign off a total shutdown, unless there are objective conditions relating to the health of everyone involved, but someone has to tell me clearly and stop me from moving forward.”

There is no cure or vaccine yet for the coronavirus.

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