Parma – SPAL: Surrealism due to the coronavirus in Serie A: players in the tunnel, the game does not start, doubts and in the end it is played an hour later | Series A 2019

Pending the Federation's decision on the suspension of the league, Parma-Spal has started, doubtfully, an hour later.

Parma players, at the stadium.
ELISABETTA BARACCHI EFE

• Coronavirus
  

  Last minute
  

The players of Parma and the SPAL, who should have started this Sunday at 12:30 pm their match on the twenty-sixth day of the Serie A, remained in the locker room tunnel waiting for the decision to be taken by the Italian Federation (FIGC) on the definitive suspension of transalpine competition for the coronavirus threat.

Yes now. Not now…

Finally, the meeting will start at 1:45 p.m. behind closed doors, as planned. An hour and a quarter later than expected and with the players returning to perform the warm-up exercises.

All because Government and Federation do not agree on decision making. Italy's Youth and Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora has already been in favor of the suspension. “It does not make sense at this time, while we ask enormous sacrifices from citizens to prevent the spread of contagion, endangering the health of the players, referees, coaches and fans who will surely meet to watch the games just for not temporarily suspending the football and affect the interests that revolve around it, “he said in an official note collected by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

Thus, he urged the FIGC to stop the competition. “I think it is the duty of FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, a reflection, without waiting for the first case of contagion among footballers and assume this great responsibility, “he said.

This morning, the Italian Government announced the prohibition by decree of entries and exits from the Lombardy region and 14 other regions considered “red zones” so far from March 8 to April 3, enough time to detect any possible new case of the coronavirus.