Serie A

As well as reopening parks, gardens and cemeteries to the public, the region has also declared individual sport training sessions can start up again.

That could be good news for top-flight clubs Bologna, Parma, Sassuolo and SPAL, although central government could yet overrule the regional guidance.

In a statement issued on its website on Friday, the Emilia-Romagna local authority listed various ways in which it intended to lift coronavirus restrictions from May 4.

The statement included the following: "Green light also for the training in individual form of professional and non-professional athletes recognised by the Italian National Olympic Committee, by the Italian Paralympic Committee and by their respective federations, in compliance with the rules of social distancing and without any gatherings in closed-door structures, also for athletes of non-individual sports disciplines."

The move by regional governor Stefano Bonaccini represents a significant shift in a country that has been hit hard by the global pandemic.

Reports in Italy have said clubs could yet be barred from welcoming back their players on Monday, after the national government's regional affairs minister Stefano Boccia intervened to express opposition when the Calabria region this week announced it would be reopening bars and restaurants.

Prime minister Giuseppe Conte announced last weekend that professional sports teams could resume training on May 18.

Sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora has urged Serie A teams to focus their energy on next season, after France and the Netherlands became the first high-profile European leagues to abandon the 2019-20 campaign.

Spadafora said on Wednesday: "I always said that resuming training absolutely does not mean resuming the season."

Italy's top flight was suspended indefinitely last month due to the spread of the virus, and authorities have insisted they will not even consider resuming action until it is safe to do so.

Only the United States and Spain have been impacted more heavily by COVID-19 than Italy, which has confirmed 128,000 cases and almost 16,000 deaths – a worldwide high.

With the suspension preventing clubs from taking in gate receipts and other streams of revenue, they are being impacted financially.

League-wide pay cuts for players and coaching staff had been mooted, particularly since Juventus implemented their own such measures last week, and Serie A has now confirmed all clubs have agreed to act.

A statement read: "The situation needs the entire system to be responsible, with the clubs ready to play their part while facing huge losses in order to guarantee Italian football's future.

"These losses will have to be minimal because a reduction of costs will be implemented, when most of the costs are represented by salaries.

"Coherently with all the actions undertaken at national and international level, Lega Serie A has decided unanimously, excluding Juventus - who have already agreed such salary cut with their own players - a common line to reduce the impact of wages of players and managers of the first-team squads.

"This reduction, necessary to save the future of football, will be of one-third lump sum (as much as four months' salary) if football doesn't start over again or of one-sixth (as much as two months' salary) if we can finish the 2019-20 season. It goes without saying that it will be the clubs discussing the terms with their employees.

"Lega Serie A is monitoring the situation along with FIGC [Italian Football Federation], UEFA and ECA [European Clubs Association]. The will to finish the season has been communicated, but only without any risks as of when sanitary conditions and governments decree will allow it.

"Today's assembly has analysed the recommendations of the Italian Sporting Medical Federation on the training session restart at the present time. Within the end of this week the FIGC will issue the norms about it."

Prime minister Giuseppe Conte announced over the weekend that professional sports teams can resume training on May 18.

However, in an interview with LA7 on Wednesday, Spadafora insisted this should not be taken as an indication that a mid-June resumption is likely, instead pointing towards France's example as a likely path for others to follow.

On Tuesday, French prime minister Edouard Philippe announced football in the country would not be allowed to resume until September, when the 2020-21 season will commence.

"I always said that resuming training absolutely does not mean resuming the season," Spadafora said. "I understand some people saying 'but that leaves us with uncertainty'. If we don't want uncertainty than we need to follow other countries which have already shut down everything.

"Honestly, I see the path to restarting Serie A getting ever narrower. Resuming training is an important sign but if I was among the presidents of the soccer teams I would be thinking about next season.

"[Ligue 1] could push Italy and other European countries to follow that line."

Governing body Lega Serie A is due to meet on Friday.

Twelve rounds of fixtures remain in the top flight, which has been on hiatus since March 9, while the Coppa Italia paused midway through its two-legged semi-finals.

Deaths from COVID-19 in Italy have exceeded 27,000 and Spadafora is keen for football to be mindful of the bigger picture.

"I'm not looking for zero risk because unfortunately we can't look for that," he said. "I've only asked the protocol proposed by the Italian soccer federation be viable.

"For example: are we that sure that it will be really possible to carry out the number of tests proposed? The protocol also applies to the lower leagues which don't have the resources to apply it."

Spadafora added: "I can't say today whether the season will resume in mid-June. From now until then it's a month and a half, so time enough that we can hope the country is much better, but we can't have any certainty. I appeal to the league and to the federation to start thinking about a plan B."

An emergency meeting of Lega Serie A was being held on Friday during which it is said all teams were in agreement to resume the campaign rather than follow the leads of the Eredivisie and Ligue 1, which have ended their respective seasons amid the coronavirus pandemic.

There had been suggestions that some teams were opposed to the idea but reports said there was widespread agreement during the teleconference meeting, which was primarily being held to discuss the issue of TV rights, to finish the schedule.

Italian sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week warned the government may step in to end the season if agreement could not be reached with the league over medical protocols to restart matches.

Serie A president Paolo Dal Pino responded by calling for a united approach and added: "The minister can be sure of our constructive and collaborative spirit and that my harmony with the president of the FIGC Gabriele Gravina is absolute."

Other major leagues including the Bundesliga and Premier League are still aiming to complete their seasons.

Earlier on Friday it was announced four Serie A clubs could resume training on Monday after the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy relaxed its lockdown rules.

As well as reopening parks, gardens and cemeteries to the public, the region has also declared individual sport training sessions can start up again.

That could be good news for Bologna, Parma, Sassuolo and SPAL, although central government may yet overrule regional guidance.

All clubs can resume training from May 18 as it stands with government lockdown measures expiring a day earlier, although that is not guaranteed as they may yet be extended.

Defending champions Juventus were a point clear of Lazio through 26 games when the league was postponed.

Serie A and all domestic sport in Italy has been suspended until at least April 3, while the country is in lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Outside of China, Italy has been the hardest hit by coronavirus, with at least 1,809 deaths and more than 24,700 cases.

As Italy struggles to cope amid growing calls for Euro 2020 to be postponed, AIC boss Tommasi told Che Tempo Che Fa: "It's clearly impossible to start playing at the beginning of April.

"If all goes well, we can resume in May or June. When we talk about football, people think we are only ensuring the safety of players, but there's a whole world behind the team.

"The first to be contaminated were in Serie C with Pianese, and their kit man is still in intensive care. Juventus have 100 people under quarantine.

"These are people who travel all around Italy and Europe, meeting many, many people during the course of their work. The problem is not just Italian, but European, so UEFA have to behave like the European Union."

Prior to the Serie A hiatus, defending champions Juventus topped the table by one point ahead of Lazio.

The last top-flight fixture was between Sassuolo and Brescia, with the former winning 3-0 on March 9.

The Serie A, like most leagues around the world, has been suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 crisis, which has claimed more than 24,000 lives globally.

Italy – a country in strict lockdown – has been the hardest hit with over 8,200 casualties, while confirmed cases have exceeded 80,500.

Various Serie A owners have debated whether the 2019-20 campaign should resume or be cancelled, and Spadafora provided an update on Thursday, with the final decision down to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

"The forecasts that made us think we could resume sports competitions in late April or May, have been too optimistic given the evolution of the health emergency," he told Rai 3's Chi l'ha visto.

"I can say for certain that, if the resumption of sporting events will exist, it will certainly start again behind closed doors.

"It's not possible to think otherwise, but I also have some doubts with respect to the date of May 3. Unfortunately, this medical emergency is constantly related to its evolution. We have to adapt our decisions very often to the epidemic."

Spadafora added: "The final choice will be down to the FIGC, but it's unlikely that it will be able to resume in the beginning of May.

"The federation might decide to postpone the games until the late summer, I have read suggestions about July and August, but the situation is complicated.

"After all, the rest of the footballing world has given us some more time to understand the emergency and now I imagine it will move forward with the necessary caution."

Italy's top flight was suspended indefinitely last month due to the spread of coronavirus, and the FIGC stated on Friday that the season would not be resumed until the health and safety of all concerned could in some way be guaranteed.

Italy has been the country hardest hit by COVID-19 in Europe, with close to 129,000 confirmed cases and more than 15,800 deaths, although official figures over recent days have indicated strict lockdown measures are having an effect on the spread of the virus.

Gravina says the proposed date of May 17 to restart Serie A remains a possibility, but he insists it would be best to allow 2019-20 to finish much later this year if necessary, rather than declare the season cancelled.

"It's a hypothesis," Gravina told RAI when asked if a September or October finish had been put forward. "At the moment, a possible date to restart could be May 17, but I want to clarify that this is only a hypothesis.

"Finishing the season would be the best way not only so the 2019-20 season is not compromised, but also to avoid compromising the 2020-21 season in any way."

There are signs Italy's stringent measures to enforce social distancing and limit all non-essential travel are working, with the number of new deaths falling over the past three days, while the rate of confirmed new cases also appears to be going down.

However, prime minister Giuseppe Conte admitted earlier on Sunday that he cannot offer any guarantee when lockdown measures will be eased.

"Right now, I can't say when the lockdown will end. We are following the directions of the scientific committee, but Italy was the first nation [in Europe] to face the emergency," Conte said.

"Our response was maybe not perfect, but we have done our best based on the knowledge we have.

"The validity of the measures we have taken has been recognised by the World Health Organization and the results indicate we're on the right path."

UEFA on Thursday strongly recommended all top-flight leagues that have been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic be completed, though it also provided guidelines for those that cannot continue.

It was proposed to UEFA's executive committee that European and domestic competitions run in parallel when a return to play is possible, or all domestic fixtures be completed before continental games resume at the start of August.

Following a FIGC video conference, president Gabriele Gravina confirmed extra time will be granted for clubs to finish the remainder of the campaign.

Discussions will be held with the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC) about extending contracts that are set to expire on June 30, when the season was due to finish.

"The football world is working incessantly and responsibly to find concrete and sustainable solutions to the crisis generated by COVID-19, including those necessary to safeguard the 2020-21 competitions," said Gravina in a statement.

"I thank minister [for sport Vincenzo] Spadafora for the attention he gave to us in Wednesday's meeting, during which our approach was explained in depth: [we want] to return to play safely because that is what common sense dictates and we are asked to do so by the international bodies to which Italian football is connected."

However, Gravina aimed a dig at critics suggesting football has been given preferential treatment during the coronavirus crisis.

"I am astonished that I have to again realise the temptation to talk constantly about football, for the notoriety that this brings, prompts some to comment on things of which they are obviously ill-informed," he said.

Serie A teams are hoping to return to training on May 4, when Italy's existing lockdown measures are scheduled to be scaled back.

Last week, prime minister Giuseppe Conte had given teams the green light to resume full training once again on Monday, May 18, but it was then delayed due to further disagreements between the government and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) relating to medical protocols.

The relevant authorities seem to have found common ground, however, with sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora revealing the government's Technical Scientific Committee (CTS) has approved the latest protocols.

He also confirmed a meeting on May 28 will determine whether or not the 2019-20 Serie A season resumes, with the competition having been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic and not able to return until at least June 15.

"Group workouts can resume," Spadafora told Rai 2. "Some evaluations have been made and the FIGC has been available to review the first proposal.

"Today, the situation allows us to foresee less stringent rules. When the conditions are better, it is right that the world of football also has lighter rules to recover safely.

"I scheduled a meeting on May 28 at 3pm with the presidents, [Gabriele] Gravina and [Paolo] Dal Pino [of the FIGC and Lega Serie A, respectively].

"I believe that next Thursday we will have all the data available to be able to decide if and when the championship will start again.

"May 28 is the date on which it will be known if the championship will restart."

Italy has confirmed 226,699 positive cases and 32,169 deaths among those with COVID-19, making it one of the worst-hit countries in the world.

However, the rate of deaths and infections have decreased to such an extent recently that bars and cafes have started to reopen in some areas of the country.

All sport had already been required to take place behind closed doors until April following a previous government decree, but CONI announced new measures on Monday following a significant increase in cases.

Conte confirmed CONI's decision will be implemented, with the prime minister announcing the suspension of Serie A and all sporting events as he extended the restriction of movement to the nation's entire population, having previously only been in place for specific so-called "red zones".

All public gatherings have banned other than for work or emergency purposes, with a total of 9,172 people infected as of Monday.

"There is no more time, the numbers tell us there is a significant increase in the contagion, in intensive care and deaths," Conte said in a news conference.

"Our habits have to change, we must sacrifice something for the good of all of Italy. This is why we will adopt even more stringent measures.

"I will sign the new decree, which can be summed up with the phrase 'I am staying at home'. There are no more red zones, there is just an Italy that is protected.

"We must avoid travel unless for proven work reasons, health reasons or other necessities. We ban large public gatherings.

"We also have more stringent measures in mind for sporting events. Serie A and all sporting tournaments in general are suspended. All the fans must accept that."

It is unclear what this will mean for Champions League and Europa League matches involving Italian teams.

UEFA is yet to postpone any matches, but it did confirm on Monday Roma's upcoming Europa League contest with Sevilla at Stadio Olimpico on March 19 will be played behind closed doors.

Another UEFA competition, Euro 2020, is due to begin in Rome on June 12.

Following a government decree issued on Monday, Italy is on lockdown and all public gatherings are banned until April 3.

This development also means all sporting events in that timeframe have been postponed, throwing Serie A – which had previously been due to continue behind closed doors – into doubt.

Should Serie A resume on April 4, teams will have between 12 and 14 matches to cram in before the end of May, while some sides also have European ties to contend with.

FIGC has a limited amount of time to work with too, given Euro 2020 is set to begin in Rome on June 12, meaning facilities will need to be handed over to UEFA well in advance.

Italy's governing body is considering its options, accepting Serie A could either: finish early; be decided by play-offs; or simply halted and the title would go to no one.

A statement on the FIGC website read: "With reference to the recovery of Serie A matches, taking into account that the other leagues [Serie B, Serie C et cetera] have no international deadlines and therefore a wider margin of programming, the federal president proposed to the Serie A league to take advantage of all the dates available until May 31.

"If the COVID-19 emergency does not allow the conclusion of the championships, president Gabriele Gravina has submitted to the attention of the leagues concerned some hypotheses on which to discuss in the meeting of the Federal Council on 23 March.

"Without any order of priority, a hypothesis could be the non-assignment of the title of Campione of Italy and consequent communication to UEFA of the teams that qualified for the European competitions [Champions League and Europa League]; another would be to refer to the rankings accrued up to the moment of interruption; third and last hypothesis, to play only the play-offs for the title of Campione d'Italia and the play-offs for relegation to Serie B."

As it stands, Juventus are top of Serie A with 63 points – one clear of Lazio. Brescia, SPAL and Lecce occupy the three relegation spots, with the latter tied on 25 points with 17th-placed Genoa.

As of Tuesday, Italy is the most-affected European nation, with 9,172 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Italy's top tier was on Thursday given the green light to return, as sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora announced the intention is to resume the fixtures from June 20.

During his statement, Spadafora confirmed the Coppa Italia would take place the week before, though no specific dates were set for the last three matches – the two semi-finals and the showpiece.

But a Lega Serie A statement released on Friday said there was a unanimous agreement that the remaining games in hand from matchday 25 will go ahead on the first weekend.

It was also confirmed the Coppa Italia final shall be played on June 17, though dates for the semi-finals are still to be determined.

The statement read: "The assembly of Lega Serie A met today [Friday] in the presence of all 20 associated clubs in a video conference.

"The clubs welcomed the green light to the return of Serie A communicated yesterday by minister Spadafora and unanimously voted on the dispute of the four matches of the 25th matchday (Atalanta v Sassuolo, Hellas Verona v Cagliari, Inter v Sampdoria and Torino v Parma) on the weekend of June 20-21 and the planning of matchday 27 starting from Monday, June 22.

"Furthermore, welcoming the wish of minister Spadafora, the sporting activity of the 2019-2020 season will resume immediately with the Coppa Italia, of which the final is scheduled for June 17.

"Dates and times of the matches will be announced by Lega Serie A in the coming days."

Juventus were a point clear of Lazio at the top of the table with 12 games remaining when the league season was suspended in March.

They were due to face Milan in the second leg of the Coppa semi-final in Turin on March 4, with the first leg having finished 1-1.

The other semi-final was also finely poised, with Napoli 1-0 up against Inter ahead of their second leg at the San Paolo.

Serie A has been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 crisis, though most teams returned to individual training this week.

Spadafora has previously reiterated that team training will not resume before May 18, despite the government allowing players to return to club facilities.

With Germany's Bundesliga set to restart its 2019-20 campaign on May 16, Spadafora said in a Facebook video on Saturday: "We will imminently learn the verdict of the scientific committee on the [Italian Football Federation] FIGC's medical protocol.

"We are also ready to propose guidelines to the committee for training sessions involving all team sports and guidelines to open up facilities, including gyms, swimming pools and dance halls, that will allow all those who work in sport to resume their activities.

"Finally, we are also working with the Ministry for Education, for Equal Opportunities and Families to reopen sporting facilities, so we can guarantee a summer of sport for the youngest members of our society.

"So, one step at a time, sport will return. It'll be stronger than ever."

Defending champions Juventus were a point clear of Lazio through 26 matches at the time of postponement in March.

Serie A was suspended indefinitely last month with Italy hit hard by COVID-19 – more than 14,600 of the global deaths, which has exceeded 58,800, coming from the European country.

Returning at the end of May had been an initial target but those plans have been scrapped following Friday's meeting between Lega Serie A and the Italian Players' Association (AIC).

"The Lega Serie A assembly meeting took place this afternoon, with all 20 clubs present via video conference," the statement read.

"The position that emerged from talks between UEFA, ECA and the European Leagues held yesterday was represented at the meeting.

"With regards to the possible completion of the remaining Serie A and Coppa Italia matches, Lega Serie A will only consider the resumption of sporting activity when health conditions allow it, adhering, as it has always done, to government decrees and taking into primary consideration the protection of the health of the players and all those involved.

"In facing the different scenarios, which are still uncertain, Lega Serie A - with the participation of club representatives - will continue to analyse the impact and consequences of COVID-19 on medical, economic, regulatory, sporting and risk-assessment levels for the clubs and Lega Serie A itself in the coming days."

Defending champions Juventus were one point clear of Lazio through 26 matches when the league was suspended.

The last Serie A match took place on March 9, with Sassuolo accounting for Brescia 3-0.

More than 30,800 people have died from coronavirus, with the number of cases worldwide exceeding 660,000.

Shevchenko, who was a child at the time of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 that reportedly killed 54 people and is said to have led to thousands of deaths, said he saw similarities.

"I lived a moment very similar to this. At the time, I was nine years old," the Ukraine coach told Sky Sport.

"The only thing we have to do is avoid stupid behaviour. None of us can be sure that we have no contracted the virus.

"We must not go out, we must not think only of us, but above all of those people for whom the infection would be a greater problem."

Shevchenko thanked doctors and nurses and urged people to respect guidance from their governments.

Italy, where Shevchenko played with AC Milan from 1999-2006, has seen more than 10,000 deaths due to coronavirus.

"The only solution is to respect the rules of the government – that is to stay at home and give doctors the opportunity to do their job, which is really huge," he said.

"Give them volunteer nurses, they are the heroes of our time. They must be thanked for all they are doing."

A statement from Italy's Home Office on Sunday declared individual athletes - including those who play for teams - can undertake sports activities again, provided they maintain social distancing.

On Saturday, Sassuolo became the first Serie A club to confirm they would be going back to training since the season was halted due to the coronavirus crisis.

Others in the top tier have since followed suit, including Inter, who will make pitches at their Appiano Gentile available to first-team squad members, albeit on a voluntary basis.

"The resumption of competitive activities will be determined and communicated as soon as the relevant regulatory framework is finalised," Inter said in a statement. 

"All the other areas of the centre will remain closed with the exception of the on-site health and technical facility, which is required to ensure a safe environment and safeguard the athletes."

It is also reported table-topping Juventus - who sit one point clear of nearest rivals Lazio at the summit - have asked their players who are currently abroad to return to Italy, allowing them to undergo a period of isolation ahead of a potential resumption.

However, Spadafora had made clear full training will not be allowed before the country's lockdown measures expire on May 17. 

"I read strange things around but nothing has changed compared to what I have always said about football: the teams' training will not resume before 18 May and the resumption of the championship for now is not really talked about," he wrote on Facebook.

"Now sorry but I'm going back to deal with all the other sports and sports centres (gyms, dance centres, swimming pools, etc) that must reopen as soon as possible!"

Italy has been one of the countries to suffer the most during the health crisis, with over 28,000 deaths related to COVID-19.

As football associations and governments aim to slow the spread of the virus, top-flight competitions have been postponed for the time being.

We take a look at the state of play in Europe's top five leagues.

PREMIER LEAGUE

Suspended since: March 13
Suspended until:April 3
Matches played: 28-29 of 38

The Premier League has been paused at least until after the international break, although the intended return date appears purely provisional as the league prepares for further discussions on the matter. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi have both tested positive.

Liverpool are 25 points clear of defending champions Manchester City and need just two more wins when play resumes to clinch their first league title since 1990.

Meanwhile, the race for European qualification is complicated somewhat by City's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport following their ban from UEFA competitions. Fifth place, occupied by Manchester United, could be enough to play Champions League football next season.

At the bottom, Norwich City are propping up the league and sit six points shy of safety. But the five teams above them are separated by just four points as they look to avoid relegation.

LALIGA

Suspended since:March 12
Suspended until: April 3
Matches played: 27 of 38

LaLiga had been set to be played behind closed doors leading into the international break, but Real Madrid went into quarantine when a player on their basketball team tested positive, and the season was instead postponed for "at least" two matchweeks.

Should the season be belatedly able to continue, a tense title race is on the cards. Barcelona lead bitter rivals Madrid by just two points, having reclaimed top spot ahead of the suspension when Zinedine Zidane's side lost at Real Betis.

There are then just two points between Sevilla in third and Atletico Madrid in sixth, with Real Sociedad and Getafe also in the hunt for Champions League qualification.

Espanyol, Leganes and Real Mallorca occupy the relegation places, but the latter two sides won their previous matches. Celta Vigo are a point clear of Mallorca in 17th.

SERIE A

Suspended since:March 9
Suspended until: April 3
Matches played: 25-26 of 38

Some Serie A matches had been postponed even before the Italian government confirmed a suspension of all sport in the country until April 3, leaving the league table a little imbalanced.

The country remains on lockdown, while a number of players – including Daniele Rugani, Manolo Gabbiadini and Patrick Cutrone – have tested positive.

Italy's top flight had been engaged in a gripping title tussle, with defending champions Juventus only a point ahead of Lazio. Inter have also been in the mix all season but lost to the Bianconeri behind closed doors last week to fall nine points off the pace, albeit with a game in hand.

Atalanta have lit up the Champions League this season and are hoping to qualify for next term. They sit fourth, three points ahead of Roma, who have played a game more.

Brescia and SPAL both look destined for the drop, meanwhile, but Lecce – in 18th – are level on points with Genoa, whose rivals Sampdoria are a point better off.

BUNDESLIGA

Suspended since: March 13
Suspended until: March 19
Matches played: 24-25 of 34

Bundesliga matches have only been postponed for one matchweek as things stand, yet the clubs are set to meet on Monday as the DFL suggests a suspension until April 2. Paderborn's Luca Kilian was the first player in the top flight to test positive on Friday.

The enforced break came as Bayern Munich were building a lead at the top of the table. There was a four-way battle between the defending champions, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach at one stage. But Leipzig are winless in two and have dropped to third, a point behind Dortmund and five behind Bayern.

Those four teams are not yet even assured of Champions League football, however, with Bayer Leverkusen in fifth on 47 points – three shy of Leipzig.

Paderborn are bottom and six points away from a relegation play-off, with Werder Bremen two points above them. Fortuna Dusseldorf must make up four points to Mainz if they are to avoid the play-off.

LIGUE 1

Suspended since: March 13
Suspended until: TBC
Matches played: 27-28 of 38

Rather than set a provisional return date, the Ligue 1 season is on hold "until further notice".

While the league's plan going forward is a little vague, the standings are clearer than in other countries. Paris Saint-Germain are 12 points ahead of second-placed Marseille with a game in hand.

The top two should clinch automatic Champions League qualification if the campaign can continue, while third-placed Rennes have a point advantage over Lille.

At the bottom, Toulouse's miserable season has returned just 13 points. Amiens have 10 points more but are just one place better off and must gain four points on Nimes to reach the relegation play-off, which Saint-Etienne and Dijon are three clear of.

The majority of sports across the globe have been halted by the outbreak of COVID-19, with football seeing Euro 2020 and the Copa America pushed back to 2021 as a result.

Tebas is part of a working group set up by UEFA to devise solutions for the "resumption and/or conclusion of the current season in a coherent manner".

LaLiga's chief is confident things can be wrapped up by the end of June, though he acknowledged around six weeks of competition would be required.

"The fundamental scenario is that mid or late May is the latest starting date to end on June 30," said Tebas in an interview with El Pais.

"The scenario may also depend on some Champions League games that will be played at the weekend, which could give us some room to start some clubs later, or that we can recover by starting all a little later.

"We are even working with leagues like the Italian one, which has 14 games left, and the Danish one, which has 15 remaining. The decision of UEFA to postpone the European Championship has served us well to try to finish the competitions. 

"We made the calendar calculations even before the European Championship was postponed. It was a stage that we knew could be reached and we are working on various start dates.

"Here you have to work backwards, with what is the last date on which you could play to see the options that may arise.

"When we start playing there will be full medical guarantees, but that no longer depends on us, it will depend on the governments of the countries. If they guarantee that it can be played, it will be played."

Tebas insisted there are no plans to cut down on fixtures and admitted fans could be kept out of games when they resume.

He said: "That will also depend on the governments of each country. You have to think that we are working with 30 different leagues and it will depend on the health authorities if it is played behind closed doors or under what conditions.

"We are not considering any format change for any competition, including the European ones. The mandate that we have is to finish the competitions as they are now. The calendar with which it works is with the competitions in full and in their usual format.

"The only job that concerns me day and night is to finish the competitions."

Italy was one of the first European countries to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Serie A was halted in March as regions, particularly those in the north, struggled to stop the virus' spread amid rising death tolls.

While top flights in France and the Netherlands have been declared completed, leagues in Italy, Spain and England are intending to follow the Bundesliga's lead in Germany and resume with fixtures behind closed doors.

Clubs in Italy returned to training this month and it is thought the league will soon get the green light from the government to resume fixtures in mid-June.

However, former Italy international Di Livio, who won three Serie A titles with Juventus in the 1990s, is vehemently against the concept of restarting the league.

"I am against [the restart]," he told Stats Perform News.

"I am sorry. This season is meaningless. The situation is rife with too many casualties. What is the point?

"Who will have the guts to celebrate a title win after all this? Let's face it, guys. They want [football] to keep going behind closed doors? I know exactly what makes football go round and these situations, but I don't agree.

"I may be wrong, but I look at other things and I say this as a man who lives on and about football only.

"The situation has been ugly and critical and still in Lombardy nothing is clear yet, is it?"

There have been 231,139 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Italy, where 33,072 people have died with the virus.

Prior to the league being halted, Juventus were one point ahead of Lazio as they bid for a ninth Scudetto in a row.

Serie A was suspended indefinitely in March due to the coronavirus pandemic and the FIGC has already stated that the campaign will not resume until the health and safety of all concerned can be guaranteed.

Italy's minister for sport Vincenzo Spadafora is hoping to confirm a May 4 date for the return to Serie A training as soon as possible, with the current restrictions on movement and outdoor activities set to end on May 3.

Defending champions Juventus were a point clear of Lazio through 26 games at the time of postponement and Gravina hit out at those calling for the cancellation of the season.

"I share the minister Spadafora's hope of resuming on May 4, with all due caution and guarantees," Gravina told Rai Radio.

"It's a complex moment for our country, economy and football, which is one of the most important industries. With a sense of responsibility, availability and common sense, we'll find the right way.

"Those proposing to invoke the cancellation of the season don't like football or Italians and want to take away the hope of future and restarting football. I’ll hold out until the end.

"We've developed a strict and careful but flexible health protocol, which we'll deliver to ministers Spadafora and Speranza tomorrow [Saturday].

"It'll take three weeks of safety measures so we can start again in late May-early June. There will be a period of controls to ensure the negativity of all those attending the events If everyone tests negative, there won't be any problems of distancing or the virus spreading.

"As for restarting with the Coppa Italia semi-finals, this programme concerns just Serie A. We're still waiting for the calendar. I hope everyone is able to play in their own stadiums. If it's not possible then we'll look at alternative solutions."

There have been more than 2,240,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases globally, with over 154,120 deaths.

In Italy, at least 22,700 people have died from coronavirus, while more than 172,400 cases have been recorded.