Lega Serie B and all Serie B clubs: ‘Do not let Italian football die.'

Paolo Dal Pino, Lega Serie A President, is worried because he believes football is close to an ‘economic catastrophe’ because of the pandemic and ‘other options’ should be considered such as play-offs if the season cannot conclude.

The number of COVID cases has risen dramatically in both Italy and in the football world, postponing lots of Serie B games and even rising a concern of likelihood of halting the campaign like what happened in March.

“Football is first and foremost a primary entertainment industry, a product that competes on a global level,” Dal Pino said.

“This is a phenomenon that brings together the interests of 30 million people. Football is not just stars, champions and multi-million Euro salaries, but a movement that involves 300,000 workers.

“Populism, demagoguery and superficiality in judgment should be cast aside. Football has a universal language, which is why I am asking the Government to consider it as an overall system. Football is close to an economic catastrophe.”

Dal Pino met with Government representatives this week to discuss this matter.

“There are three potential solutions,” continued Dal Pino.

“The first is reparations for the damages suffered by football due to the restrictive measures imposed by the Government. The second is asking Ministers if we can work together, because we weren’t even consulted on the wording of the laws to reform sport. Let’s sit down at the table and at least share the process.

“The third option is for politics to pay attention to the value that football provides and that they can’t even seem to imagine: in Italy, it represents a huge social element and method of communication.”

In the meantime, the Lega Serie B and all Serie B clubs have released a statement this morning saying: ‘Do not let Italian football die.’