Former Juventus Midfielder Claudio Marchisio Insists Serie A Must Finish

Ex-Juventus star Claudio Marchisio has stated the Italian top-flight must resume and claims ‘zero risk is impossible’.

The Italian Government are expected to decide in the next 24 hours as to whether they will accept the football federation’s (FIGC) medical protocol.

Juventus and other Serie A teams commenced training earlier this week with players training individually. Group exercise is expected to resume on May 18, but only if the protocol is approved. 

A meeting was held on Thursday, May 7 between the Government’s technical-scientific committee and the FIGC, and with no deal agreed, a report was sent to the Ministry of Health for further examination.

“At this moment, football is trapped in the claws of this situation just the same as any other profession,” Marchisio explained to Tuttosport.

“However, we mustn’t forget football is one of the top 10 industries in this country, with a very important financial contribution and which involves millions of people.

“Football is not just the elite of millionaire players who appear on front pages and rule social media. Even just the Serie B and Serie C players, who have a very different financial outlook, then all the less visible workers who depend on the sport for the salary that keeps their family going, like kit staff, physiotherapists, security and the media.”

The Players’ Association are keen for the protocol to be finalised and the former Old Lady star is also hoping soccer will recommence in the near future.

“I hope we can get back to playing soon because I am an optimist, I love football and honestly miss it,” continued Marchisio.

“I read that there is debate over the risk of contagion, but I wouldn’t want people to wait for there to be zero risks, because that doesn’t exist in a contact sport like football. We must try to structure everything to lower the risk as much as possible, but if we wait for it to be zero, we’ll never play again.”

Minister for Sport Vincenzo Spadafora along with the Government are keen for the 2019-20 Serie A season to be suspended, the same of which has happened to the Dutch Eredivise and French Ligue 1.

“It’d be a decision to be respected, but then the State would also have to take responsibility and ensure the industry doesn’t go under. I am worried, as a businessman with three restaurants, that the Government decrees so far have largely been a lot of words and very little action.

“Many football clubs would go bankrupt if they stopped playing, losing jobs not just of the players, but of everyone who makes this industry work from behind the scenes.”

Marchisio’s comments come after French giants Lyon denied that their Champions League Last-16 second leg tie against Juve will commence on August 7, as originally claimed by the club’s president Jean-Michel Aulas. 

Lyon released a statement earlier on their official website denying his remarks.

“Olympique Lyonnais would like to clarify that the date of the Juventus-OL match, in the Champions League knockout rounds, has not been finalised yet, contrary to what was previously suggested,” it read.

“The date for this Round-of-16 game should be confirmed as part of planning for the final stages of the Champions League, which will be announced directly by UEFA soon.

“Olympique Lyonnais are also waiting impatiently for the Final of the Coupe de la Ligue, probably in early August, which will allow us, unlike other teams, to prepare for this essential part of the season.

“OL nonetheless regret the difference in preparation compared to their European competitors, who have practically resumed training already.”

The Old Lady are 1-0 down from their first-leg and have it all to do in the reverse fixture at the Allianz Stadium. Should Serie A resume, then Lyon could well have the edge it seems given the fact their domestic league has been abandoned and therefore their total focus will be to progress to the next round.

They will also have the advantage of not having to face a hostile and vocal crowd as the game will be played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

All of this, of course, would only happen if the Italian Government decided to resume Serie A and UEFA get the all-clear to complete the Champions League.