The boss of Italian football is determined that the Serie A season will play to a finish as the coronavirus crisis shows no sign of abating in Italy.
All sport in the country was suspended on March 9 until at least April 3 but Italy has been hit hardest by the outbreak with 7,503 people dying from the infection in less than a month.
FIGC president Gabriele Gravina is refusing to give up on the Serie A season and believes that there could be a resumption in July or August.
"For as long as I’m able to, I won’t lose hope of resuming the campaign. I’ll do anything to make that happen. I find giving up very difficult,” said Gravina on an interview with Radio Marte.
"I’m aware that it’s still too early to think of a date, but we must think positively. We’ll try our best to even play at the cost of asking for support from UEFA and FIFA to go beyond June 30, therefore also taking advantage of July and August.
"Right now, there’s no room for individual interests. I plead for common sense because, ultimately, it’s the FIGC that will have to decide."
The summer window has been made available with the postponement of Euro 2020 but Gravina will also be looking for guidance and support from the Italian government.
"Tomorrow, there will be a new appointment with the government to work on a series of proposals that concern some amendments, which the government will assess, but there are many other issues of our relevance," added Gravina.
"We don’t want to ask for money, but we’re denouncing a state of crisis. We ask the government to help us with a series of measures to help modernise our game.
"We’ll see them tomorrow, then we will meet again next week for a permanent and constant worktable, putting together indispensable ideas to form projects.
"I consider [cancelling the season] a defeat of mine and one that diminishes the value of the competition. It would lead to an unpleasant scenario.
"I stubbornly reject any reflections that lead to such a conclusion. For as long as possible, I will continue to reject these hypotheses."
