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This is just spectacular news. If Italy, of all countries, is beginning to work their way back to sporting normalcy, then the United States of America can’t be far behind.
According to reports out of Italy, Serie A — the top division in Italian soccer — will begin allowing players to take part in individual training sessions beginning on May 5, with team training sessions being allowed on May 18.
Premier Giuseppe Conte said that starting on Monday, Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora “will work intensely with the football system, the professional sports in general, to find a road map that we have already partly defined in terms of the resumption of individual training on May 4 and teams on May 18. [via ESPN]
Similarly, in England, the Premier League has asked clubs to have their players ready to return to training by Monday, June 1.
Premier League clubs have asked their players to target a full training return on June 1 with the season potentially restarting. Managers and their coaching staff are aiming to be back working with their players by that date at the very latest. [via SkySports]
In addition to Serie A and the Premier League, the Bundesliga in Germany has announced they’re ready to return behind-closed-doors on Saturday, May 9, while the National Basketball Association will allow teams to re-open their practice facilities on this Friday, May 1.
With clubs beginning to set their sights on returning to training, it’s likely that we begin to see games played behind-closed-doors across the world in June and July.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com