Minister of Sport Vincenzo Spadafora spoke about the Coronavirus emergency and his request made to the FIGC in an interview earlier today. His word were noted by Italian media outlet FcInterNews.
“I agree with the statements of Damiano Tommasi, President of the Italian Footballers’ Association, and I agree with his request. It makes no sense at the moment, while we are asking enormous sacrifices to the citizens to prevent the spread of the contagion, to put at risk the health of the players, referees, coaches, fans who will surely gather to watch the matches, just not to temporarily suspend football and affect the interests that revolve around it.
“Other Federations have wisely opted for a stop for the next few days. I think it is the duty of the president of the FIGC, Gravina, to give some more thought, without waiting for the first case of contagion, before taking on this onerous responsibility.”
Spadafora then spoke about the interests of the broadcasters and how they’ve impacted on Italian citizens.
“After all, even before the situation became so dramatic for the country, the League and Sky had already refused to allow thousands of Italians, forced to stay at home, to be able to see the matches in clear, hiding behind alleged regulatory difficulties that with the authentic willingness of all could have been widely overcome.
“In fact, in the various contacts of yesterday, thanks to the collaboration of Rai and Mediaset, we had come close to a fair solution for all the actors and especially of great comfort for the many citizens passionate about football. And instead, the economic interests of realities that claim to have always enjoyed privileged treatment and that now live outside of reality have prevailed.
Instead, football clubs should consider how to overcome the vexatious clauses already on the attention of the Antitrust Authority to provide for the reimbursement of season tickets and tickets sold for upcoming matches. I will take into consideration in the next few days every beginning useful also legislative to put order in a world that risks no longer representing ethical and moral values to which we would like it to always be inspired.”
The Coronavirus emergency has seen the Italian region of Lombardy, where Inter is based, as well as 14 other provinces in Northern Italy being quarantined in order to stem the spread of the contagion and ensure the safety of the people.
This evening’s game between Juventus and Inter in the Allianz stadium in Turin will be played behind closed doors, with the same being decree for the Nerazzurri’s Europa League clash against Spanish side Getafe next week.
Inter have already had another one of their games postponed, the clash against Sampdoria, which still doesn’t have a date set to be played yet. This means that a win against the Bianconeri will still see the Milanese side remain three points behind.
