Serie A gets green light for restart on June 20

Italy's top-flight Serie A soccer league has been given the go-ahead to restart on June 20 following the novel coronavirus stoppage, the country's sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora said on Thursday.

ROME: Italy's top-flight Serie A soccer league has been given the go-ahead to restart on June 20 following the novel coronavirus stoppage, the country's sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora said on Thursday.

He added that there was a possibility the resumption of the league, which was suspended on March 9, could be preceded by Italian Cup matches one week earlier.

Spadafora made the announcement after a conference call with representatives from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), the players' association and the Serie A league.

"Italy is starting up again and it's only right that football can also get going," he told reporters, adding that the government had approved health measures suggested by the FIGC plus a backup plan in case the league had to be stopped again.

"In the light of this we can say that the championship can start again on June 20," he said.

There are 12 rounds of matches still to play, plus four outstanding games from previous rounds.

Juventus, chasing a ninth successive Serie A title, lead that table with 63 points from 26 games, one point ahead of Lazio who are unbeaten in their last 21 league games.

Inter Milan are a further eight points behind in third with one game in hand.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante in Rome and Elvira Pollina in Milan; Additional reporting by Brian Homewood; Editing by Ken Ferris)