Serie A suspension extended to June 14
Ronaldo reports to Juventus for tests after 10-week absence
ROME, May 19, (AP): The Serie A is suspended until June 14 unless the Italian government gives it the green light to resume a day earlier as planned.
The league announced last week that its 20 teams agreed to resume competition on June 13 in empty stadiums.
However, the Italian soccer federation announced on Monday, a day after a government decree banning sports until June 14, that it was complying.
The FIGC announced that “pending any further and desirable decision by the competent authority” its competitions will remain suspended until that date.
Serie A has been off since March 9, when the government ordered a nationwide lockdown.
There are 12 rounds remaining in Serie A, plus four matches that were postponed in the 25th round. Also, the Italian Cup is in the semifinal stage.
Italian clubs resumed training on an individual basis on May 4 when lockdown measures in the country started to ease. They were slated to return to training together on Monday but they have not been given the green light to do so by the Italian government’s science panel.
The medical protocol for the resumption of Serie A has proved contentious but a revised document was delivered to Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora on Sunday and the science panel is expected to give its verdict this week.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo reported to Juventus’ training center for medical tests on Tuesday after a 10week absence.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner observed a two-week isolation period at his home in Turin after spending the lockdown period in his native Portugal.
He has not been alongside his teammates since helping the Serie A leaders beat Inter Milan 2-0 on March 8, after which he flew to his home island of Madeira, Portugal.
Serie A was suspended a day later when the Italian government ordered a nationwide lockdown. The league is hoping to resume on June 13 if it can reach an agreement with the government, which has banned sports events until June 14.
Outside the training center in Turin, journalists and photographers plus some fans were on hand when Ronaldo arrived alone driving a Jeep. He’s the first of several Juventus players who left Italy during the lockdown to report back to the team.
Like all Serie A players, Ronaldo was to be tested for the coronavirus and undergo other physical exams.
Three Juventus players -- Daniele Rugani, Blaise Matuidi and Paulo Dybala -tested positive for COVID-19 during the lockdown. All three recovered.
Ronaldo was in top form before the lockdown, scoring 21 times in 22 Serie A matches. In his penultimate game before the suspension, Ronaldo marked his 1,000th official match by scoring in his 11th straight Serie A game. That matched the Serie A record set by Gabriel Batistuta in 1994 and equaled by Fabio Quagliarella last season.