July 14 – With Juventus inching towards a new domestic crown and Cristiano Ronaldo still proving to be a decisive marksman, Serie A is demanding rights holder Sky fulfills its financial obligations. The league is also clamouring for fans to attend matches again before the end of the current 2019/2020 season.
On Monday, all Serie A club met to discuss the Sky’s outstanding instalment of TV rights money and the potential return of fans to stadiums before the season concludes.
“All 20 clubs unanimously gave a mandate to Professor Vaccarella, reiterating to Sky the request to pay the instalment that was due in May, in consideration of the injunction issued by the Court of Milan,” read an official statement.
“However, the clubs – in full respect and in the interests of the fans, sponsors and all stakeholders – have decided not to suspend the execution of the TV rights license agreement, despite Sky’s failure to pay the last instalment of the amount due.
“With regards to TV rights, preparatory work for the call for tenders for the three-year period between 2021 and 2024 will continue in the coming weeks.”
With six match days left in Serie, the league is also hopeful that fans can return before season’s finale. At the moment, all matches are being played behind closed doors in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic in Italy. The clubs, however, have sent a proposal to the Italian FA, FIGC, demanding a partial reopening of the stadiums.
“The need to partially reopen stadiums to the public as soon as possible, in full compliance with safety measures, was reiterated, said Serie A in a statement. “In this regard a detailed protocol is being finalised and will be sent to FIGC President Gabriele Gravina in the next few hours, so that it can be used in discussions with the appropriate governmental institutions.”
In March, Serie A was shutdown as the coronavirus spread across Italy. The competition resumed in June after a three-month hiatus. Italy has registered almost 35,000 deaths during the coronavirus pandemic.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1735143291labto1735143291ofdlr1735143291owedi1735143291sni@o1735143291fni1735143291