President, how are you?
Well, locked up at home, respecting the government's recommendations, but always in contact with our interlocutors.
Do you think that European football has underestimated what was happening in Italy?
Perhaps it was necessary to act in a faster and more coordinated way, but not only in football, all European countries are involved in the same way. No one could think that this was a problem only for Italy, which is two weeks ahead. First of all, also sports, there is health: we are in tune with the RFEF, we also made the federal center of Coverciano available to the authorities.
In the last international meetings, what has been the proposal that you liked the most?
The one that provides shared solutions. All the protagonists of football will suffer losses, and it is unthinkable that only a part bears them. Federations, Leagues, clubs, footballers and, above all, fans: only together can we start again.
Are you still seeing a return to green in May possible?
The situation remains critical. In the name of Italian football, I want to send a big hug to all of Spain and to the federations that are facing this crisis, at such difficult times we are more than brothers. However, the duty of those who have responsibility in each sector is to study and make a new start. We are talking about the beginning of May, but it would be nice to get it in the middle of the month or even at the end. Anything goes to see the end of this nightmare.
He declared that there is a unity of objectives with President Rubiales: will Italy and Spain ask to end the season in July?
It is an option that we must take into account if there will be no dates available to finish everything before June 30. With Rubiales we are in tune, we want to finish what we started, it would mean seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of this emergency and offering our countries an emotional push to regain the meaning of a normal life.
How would the contracts for footballers, clubs and sponsors that expire on June 30 be managed?
Concerted derogations with FIFA and UEFA must be approved, postponing the start of the new season. I want to be clear, this can only be done if we all agree on one point: playing helps restore the illusion that makes soccer the most followed and loved sport in the world and allows us to limit the damage.
Should the format of UEFA competitions change?
It is something that UEFA has already assumed if it will be played again very late.
Would it be possible to play all the games that remain behind closed doors?
We cannot rule out this option, especially if the general conditions improve, but crowds will still be discouraged.
What consequences would a permanent suspension have?
It would be devastating. These days, the FIGC is presenting a study to the Government with the quantification of damages. We expect important measures, tens of thousands of people are involved in the soccer chain.
In this case, what solution would there be for titles, European positions and decreases?
The aim is still to resume the competitions, but we are thinking about what to do if it will not be possible. He would have talked about 'freezing' the classification with or without assigning the title, or using the playoff and playout. I had to check that Series A is not ready for this innovation, even if it was only for this year.
Will cutting wages be a necessary measure?
The spirit of solidarity also applies to this. It is a historical emergency, never experienced since the Second World War and reality requires measures that respond to the main objective: that football survive. I hope for European intervention in this area too. In Italy there were controversies about the resumption of training. We must comply with the instructions of the doctors, today it is impossible to train: we cannot even leave the house. We will have to start all over again.
Do Italian players also undergo the test if they are asymptomatic?
There is a protocol and football must respect it: the doctors decide autonomously. An example that we live closely: the women's team has been in isolation for days and nobody was tested, although the pilot and flight attendants of the flight with which they returned from Portugal tested positive.
What lesson should football learn in this emergency?
Like the European Union in politics, the football of our continent must look at its development with unity, sharing more its objectives, without national or category personalities.