FIGC: 'Options to assign Scudetto'

By Football Italia staff

A FIGC statement confirms they will try to postpone the end of Serie A to May 31 amid the Coronavirus outbreak, but could have play-offs for the Scudetto and relegation too.

Today’s summit between the Italian Football Federation, CONI, Government and various representatives of the league competitions was called to discuss how to proceed after a shutdown on sporting events until April 3.

There is no time to complete all the postponed Serie A matches by the planned final day of May 24, not to mention the Coppa Italia.

A statement from FIGC President Gabriele Gravina confirmed the previous suggestions, which are that the end of Serie A could be pushed back to May 31, trying to use all available dates in that period.

It would mean finishing right before Euro 2020, which is due to start with Italy’s game against Turkey in Rome on June 12.

As the Serie A table currently stands after 26 rounds, Juventus are top on 63 points, followed by Lazio on 62, while Inter still have a game in hand and are on 54.

“If the COVID-19 emergency should not allow for the conclusion of the league competitions, President Gravina put forward some proposals that will be discussed in another meeting on March 23.

“Without any order of priority, an option would be not assigning the Scudetto and consequently informing UEFA of the teams qualified for Europe.

“Another would be referring to the table as it stands up until the moment the season was interrupted.

“A third and final hypothesis would be to organise play-offs for the title of Champion of Italy and play-outs to decide relegation into Serie B.”

The only time the Scudetto was assigned via a play-off was in 1963-64, when Bologna and Inter both finished the campaign on 54 points.

They met in a one-off match on neutral turf in Rome on June 7, 1964.

Bologna won the game 2-0 thanks to a Giacinto Facchetti own goal and Harald Ingemann Nielsen strike.

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