RateTheRef

Agreement has been reached between the Minister for Sport (Vincenzo Spadafora) and the Italian FA concerning the resumption of Serie A and B.  The first games to be played will be the return legs of the Cup semi-finals on 13/14 June, followed by the Cup final on 17 June.  The Minister, it seems wanted the first post-quarantine games to be shown free-to-air, and the rights to show Cup games are held by the state broadcaster RAI.  League fixtures in both divisions will then recommence on 20 June.  The only other fixtures likely to take place involve a play-off to determine the fourth and final promotion place from Serie C, the winners of the three sections being promoted automatically.  If the season is unable to restart or has to be interrupted again, there is a Plan B (a series of play-offs to determine the various issues) and even a Plan C (deciding everything on the basis of current placings).

There is, though, one problem.  The TV executives, who presumably all live and work in air-conditioned buildings, want the league games to be scheduled in three slots, with the earliest being in the late afternoon, probably 5.15.  But between now and 2 August there are likely to be several, perhaps even many days when the daytime temperature in most of Italy will reach 35-40°, and I am not sure how happy the players and the club doctors are with these arrangements.