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File photo: Rome's Stadio Olimpico. Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

Too soon to talk about Serie A, FA doesn't expect fans at matches 'any time soon'

European football is nudging towards resumption at various speeds.

ACROSS EUROPE, THE sport administrators’ wheels are turning a little quicker with the scent of competition resumption about.

German football’s move towards restarting the Bundesliga this month has them in pole position to kick-off top-flight football again and seemingly increased the need for countries with higher Coronavirus death rates to find a solution of their own.

Spain, which has the highest number of confirmed cases in Europe, is targetting a mid-June return behind closed doors for La Liga. The UK has the second-highest death rate on the continent and the Premier League is attempting to convince clubs to agree to play play matches behind closed doors at neutral venues. France moved to abandon Ligue 1 and declare PSG champions.

In Italy, the epicenter of the pandemic in Europe, sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora yesterday said it was too early to discuss the return of Serie A.

Individual training will be permitted again in Italy this week, though team training not be sanctioned until 18 May at the earliest.

“I read strange things around but nothing has changed,” said the minister, “in terms of the resumption of the championship – for now we don’t talk about it.”

Chairman of England’s FA Greg Clarke today admitted he can’t foresee fans at football league matches ‘any time soon’, a reality that may linger on into the 2020/21 season.

“The reality is that we just don’t know how things are going to pan out,” Clark said in an open letter to FA council.

“But with social distancing in place for some time to come we do face substantial changes to the whole football ecosystem.

“For example it’s hard to foresee crowds of fans – who are the lifeblood of the game – returning to matches any time soon.”

The chairman also advised that a budget reduction of £75 million and warned that ‘a worst case scenario’ would keep the reduced budget in place for four years – a state of play that would affect ‘projects that we all value.’

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    May 2nd 2020, 8:59 AM

    We could certainly be doing with a Ferris or two in the green jersey nowadays. One of the best ever to wear the jersey. Pity career ended prematurely. I do enjoy him on the punditry. Very honest.

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    May 2nd 2020, 1:02 PM

    @Ray Ridge: So powerful, quality player indeed, thought he started his punditry on the bitter side, taken some time for the competitor in him to fade a little, he’s decent enough now tho in fairness.

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    Mute Cathal
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    May 2nd 2020, 5:11 PM

    He would have made any world 15 in his prime, absolutely quality player. Such a shame his career ended so early

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    Mute JackSimpson
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    May 2nd 2020, 8:09 PM

    When on form and injury free he was up there with Kaino as the best no.6 in the world.

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    Mute Spailpeen Farrell
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    May 2nd 2020, 9:11 AM

    Is Impactful code for always injured?

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    Mute Barra Mac An Bhaird
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    May 2nd 2020, 12:30 PM

    @Spailpeen Farrell: stupid comment. He was a class player

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    Mute ThatLJD
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    May 2nd 2020, 10:04 PM

    @Spailpeen Farrell: Always injured? Yes injury blighted the last year or so for him, but always injured, that’s a laugh. The reckless way he put himself about was possibly what didn’t help him have a long career but he never went missing in games and without needing to talk about what irishness meant to him he did his bit and more for the game here. Top class 6.

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    Mute Pat O'Leary
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    May 3rd 2020, 12:58 AM

    What a brilliant player – such a shame he had to retire so early. Always thought he could have managed himself a little better in terms of injuries, but guess that was just the competitor in him / always wanted to be back out in the thick of it.

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    Mute Boseph Stalin
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    May 3rd 2020, 2:06 PM

    I train at the same gym as him nowadays and hes STILL a beast!

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    Mute Conor Pocock
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    May 4th 2020, 6:08 AM

    Jaysis Ireland really had a glorious chance in 2011 to win the World Cup. Full panel of players to chose from……..Welsh defence was unreal that day though

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    Mute Jonny Walls
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    May 5th 2020, 3:12 PM

    Not sure we played New Zealand in Croker in 2010, think it was Aviva Stadium.

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