- Series A clubs will be allowed to train on May 4
- Clubs will organise individual training until May 18 when they can group up
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Italy is ready to announce the details of Phase Two of their coronavirus pandemic response that should see Serie A clubs return to training on May 4.
Italy was the first major nation that postponed its games due to the pandemic that adversely hit the nation claiming over 26,000 lives and nearly 200,000 infections. However, the country has managed to flatten the curve and slowly seeing improvements as the daily death toll is lowering and hospitals and intensive care units emptying out.
In a press conference on Sunday evening, Italian PM Giuseppe Conte announced that he will explain the details of Phase Two, which begins from the expiration of the last Government decree on May 4.
The public will be allowed limited movement within their region and football clubs can return to training individually.
Training in a group will be permitted a couple of weeks later on May 18 as the country expect the daily death toll to continue declining.
This means clubs will have to work much longer throughout the day in staggered shifts to complete training or divide squads into small groups to abide by the social distancing guidelines.
If the next phase is completed successfully, Serie A will resume playing fixtures from May 27 to June 2 and will aim to conclude the season in mid-July.
PM Conte said:
To allow a gradual resumption of sports activities, training sessions for athletes, professionals and non-professionals recognized by CONI (Italy’s Olympic Committee) will be allowed from May 4, but only in compliance with the rules of social distancing, avoiding gatherings.
Reports claim that all 20 teams have unanimously vowed to finish the campaign but will need the green light for the government to do so, with games increasingly likely to be played behind closed doors if an agreement is reached.
