Italian FA: 'Serie A season must be finished'

Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina has stated that the Serie A season must be completed when possible amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Italy has been one of the worst-affected countries during the outbreak of COVID-19, and all matches in Serie A have been suspended since March 9 as a result of the crisis.

However, Gravina has claimed that Italian football would be at risk of suffering "an avalanche of litigation" if the season were to be abandoned.

Speaking to state broadcaster RAI's Domenica Sportiva programme, Gravina said: "The only serious way to handle a serious emergency of this kind is to complete the 2019-2020 season competitions this year.

"We are working on a whole series of possible solutions to manage the situation in the best possible way.

"Could it finish in September or October? That is one hypothesis. It's a way to avoid jeopardising not only the 2019-20 season but also the 2020-21 season.

"We would really run the risk of the championship taking place only in the courtrooms."

Gravina also confirmed that May 17 was being considered as a possible date for the season to restart.