SAMPDORIA NEWS
There are discussions for a ‘solidarity fund’ created from docking the wages of some Serie A and B players to help cover salaries of Serie C squads.
Plans are taking shape for how to get Serie A going again in May or June, with blanket coronavirus tests for squads, quarantine periods for those coming from abroad and structured training.
The number of deaths in Italy from coronavirus remains relatively stable, with 760 over the last 24 hours, reaching 13,915 in total.
Players’ Association President Damiano Tommasi insists cutting wages is “not a priority” right now, but rather a protocol for returning to duty and dealing with contracts if the season goes beyond June 30.
Minister for Sport Vincenzo Spadafora announced there is “an extraordinary plan for sport to resume from May,” as Italy eye an easing of lockdown measures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sampdoria patron Massimo Ferrero has joined the debate about the possible resumption and claimed the players ‘are not machines to be turned off and on again’.
A new Government decree in Italy has banned training in sporting facilities for professionals until at least April 13 due to the coronavirus lockdown, effectively ending the debate between clubs.
A leading epidemiologist running one of Italy’s coronavirus taskforces warns it is “difficult” to see sport resume in Italy before the summer, although self-isolation prevented “tens of thousands more deaths.”
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina has confirmed that “the idea is to restart Serie A on May 20 or early June. Scrapping the season would be a grave injustice.”
Serie A clubs spent almost €200m on agent fees throughout 2019, with Juventus leading the way on €44.3m.
The Lega and the Players’ Association are, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, still far away from reaching an agreement regarding a proposed pay cut.
There were another 727 deaths in Italy from the coronavirus over the last 24 hours, taking the total to 13,155, but the rate of new infections continues to slow.
Hellas Verona midfielder Valentin Eysseric has claimed the forced break arrive too late and they “never should have played” the match against Sampdoria.
Attacking midfielder Gaston Ramirez has praised Sampdoria for their “transparency” and points a finger at the clubs who have been “hiding” their cases of coronavirus. “It’s a question of ethics”.
Italy’s Minister of Sport Vincenzo Spadafora doubts that football can resume on May 3 and confirms plan to start “behind closed doors” in the event of a return.
Coronavirus deaths have dropped slightly from yesterday, while 999 have recovered from the illness in the last 24 hours.
Former Lazio coach Sven-Göran Eriksson has revealed that he had to convince Sinisa Mihajlovic to play in defence. “He became one of the best in the world”.
Sampdoria have announced that their staff members who tested negative for coronavirus can now exit isolation.
The Paraguayan ambassador in Italy confirmed that Sampdoria midfielder Edgar Barreto has tested positive for the Coronavirus.
Lega Serie A President Paolo Dal Pino wants the Presidents to stop asking about training sessions until the initial decree expires.
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