In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, which appeared in today’s print edition, Dario Tommasi, the president of the Italian player’s association spoke on Juventus players decision to take no wages for the coming months in the midst of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
“Chiellini had told me about it, we have always been in contact. At Juve they wanted to tackle the matter before others and they came to the conclusion, with full satisfaction of all,” he began.
“Even if we will return to play in June and beyond June, the wages from then will be part of the next contract year. It is a general agreement, because there are players who are about to expire, others who are about to renew, others who are about to leave, others still in negotiation. Each individual situation will be different.”
He was then asked what the AIC’s position is when it comes to the resumption of this season.
“Our position is clear. Establishing conditions for the future, in the absence of the certainty of starting again, is difficult.
“There is a delicate issue regarding the extension of the season in July. Without an agreement between the parties, no one can extend a contract beyond its deadline.
“We’ll have to sit down and talk about it. Let’s start with the worst-case scenario. Minister Spadafora’s words confirm that before starting again, the health of the country must be safe. In this case the agreement reached by Juventus seems to me to be a starting point.”
He was then asked if the AIC will push for players to all have their health checked prior to any sort of return to the field.
“Under the conditions indicated by Maurizio Casasco in the interview with his newspaper, it is necessary to certify physical fitness and verify any outcomes. Interstitial pneumonia is not a joke. Especially for those who expose their bodies to run at one hundred miles per hour.”
He was then asked if he would be happy if the remainder of the season was carried out over the Summer months and if it would be right to assign the title if the season does not end.
“We would be the first to be happy. It would mean that our beaches are full of swimmers.
“Should a title be assigned? We will have to choose the least worst option. No decision will satisfy everyone. There will be some damage.”
“We must indicate the names of the teams that go to Europe, not necessarily decree a winner.”
He was then asked what he made of several Juventus players decision to return home whilst the players of Bianconeri club were supposed to be in a period of self-isolation following Daniele Rugani testing positive for Covid-19.
“I understand that everyone wants to go back to their family. I think of how many Lega Pro boys have stayed in sports venues and cannot see wives and children but I don’t feel like judging anyone. I have a daughter in London, the other day they cancelled their flight.”
