Italy Deliberates on Fate of Suspended Football Season, Bundesliga Season To Resume On May 16 and More (Football Round-up)

Serie A’s future remains up in the air with state scientists and bosses of football clubs undertaking serious discussions in a desperate attempt to resume the season. Many clubs have restarted training ahead of the official resumption date, May 18. 

“I hope to restart football,” Italy's Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora said ahead of the meeting. “But if the safety issues are not settled, the government will decide to shut things down.”

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Meanwhile, Brescia captain Daniele Gastaldello clearly said his entire squad is against resumption of the Serie A season due to 15,000 deaths in the Lombardy region where they are based. 

"In Brescia we've all been touched," Gastaldello told Italian daily La Repubblica in an interview published Thursday. "We all know someone who has been directly hit by the tragedy. We've realized how little it takes to ruin a family."

"We don't feel safe. They're asking us to resume training and to get back out onto the field right away, concentrating 12 matches in 1½ months,” he said. “t's putting all of the players' safety on the line," Gastaldello said. "I'm speaking for me and for my teammates. If the price of resuming is us getting seriously injured, it's not worth it anymore. We're afraid." 

Bundesliga Resumes on May 16

German Bundesliga football resumes on May 16 with a host of matches including Ruhr Valley derby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04. 

The German Football League (DFL) announced that the Bundesliga season will restart on May 16, albeit without fans in attendance.

The DFL said the season would resume under strict social distancing and health related guidelines, without any fans in the stadium. There will be several matches including the Ruhr valley derby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 on the ‘reopening’ day. 

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“The interest (globally) is big. I see reports from across the world that we are the first major league to return,” CEO Christian Seifert said in  a news conference. "This can only happen because we have the privilege to live in one of the most modern health systems in the world," 

"The matches will feel different. After the first matched day we will all know why we prefer games with fans," Seifert said.  "But that is the framework we have to operate in and I expect the best possible sport within this framework."

The season finale is scheduled for the end of June, with 27-28 set as a likely dates.

Formiga Extends Contract With PSG

Formiga, 42, also wants to have one last appearance for Brazil at the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year.

Brazil’s midfield lynchpin Formiga signed a one-year contract extension deal with the Paris Saint-Germain's women's team at the age of 42. 

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Formiga also expressed her wish to make a final Olympics appearance for the country -- her seventh -- at the Tokyo 2020 Games now slated for 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Formiga has made a record of 198 appearances for Brazil  becoming the first footballer to appear in seven World Cups and has also participated in 6 Olympic games. She joined the French club from Brazilian side Sao Jose in 2017.

Apart from Formiga, France forward Kadidiatou Diani and Danish star Nadia Nadim have also signed new contracts with PSG. PSG were three points behind Lyon when the season was suspended in March. 

Fate of French Ligue 1 Season

Germany’s plan to restart football gives hope that France could still finish Ligue 1 season, Olympique Lyonnais président Jean-Michel Aulas said. The French professional league (LFP) finished its season with 10 games remaining, and awarded the title to Paris St Germain, leaving Lyon outside the European spots for next season. This has caused Lyon and Aulas in particular to launch frequent attacks at the decision. Aulas said he will pursue the legal option too.

“I’ve noted that training has resumed in almost 10 European countries. By adapting our method, we would probably have been able to complete the season,” Aulas told French sports daily L’Equipe. “We’re on a wrong track but it’s not too late to try and think about something coherent.”

La Liga, the Serie A and the Premier League, all have been creating frameworks and plans to restart their seasons. Ligue 1 And the Dutch Eredevisie have cancelled their seasons. Ligue 1 declared champions based on the current standings and the Dutch nullified all results in the season.

Burnley Favour Restart

Burnley FC players favour restart of Premier League

Burnley players are unanimously in favour of completing the suspended season and resuming training and play once lockdown restrictions are relaxed, manager Sean Dyche said.

Dyche held a call with the players and found that players were keen to get back if ‘Project Restart’ gets the go-ahead from the government.

“Everyone was of the same thought. Everyone wants to get back to training and they want the season to go ahead,” Dyche added. “Everyone was of the same thought. Everyone wants to get back training and they want the season to go ahead. They understand the importance and for themselves as well, as individuals.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is likely to announce another phase of the ‘lockdown’ on Sunday, and the Premier League is already planning to have a systematic yet phased return to full training followed by games starting in June, which will take place behind closed doors and at neutral venues.

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