Italy suspends 2019/20 Serie A season amid country-wide coronavirus lockdown

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Italy’s Serie A announced the league would be suspended until further notice amid an escalating outbreak of the deadly coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

The announcement to suspend the 2019/20 Serie A league season, along with other sporting events in the country, came following a televised statement from Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday.

According to the Italian prime minister, the lockdown affects the entire country and will begin on Tuesday.

“We’re having an important growth in infection…and of deaths,” Conte said, adding citizens must all “give something up for the good of Italy.”

“We have to do it now, and we’ll only be able if we all collaborate and adapt to these more stringent measures,” he added.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said the suspension would run until April 3. CONI, which manages sporting events across Italy, initially recommended the Italian government ban sports due to the coronavirus.

According to unofficial statistics, Italy has recorded over 9,000 cases of COVID-19 with 463 deaths.  

The outbreak of the coronavirus has forced the postponement and suspension of several sporting events around the world.

In Iraq, the country’s football association decided to suspend the 2019/20 Iraqi Premier League, weeks after it was resumed following calm amid anti-government protests.

The Kurdistan Region’s Erbil Sport Club is the only remaining Kurdish club competing in the competition following Zakho Sport Club’s withdrawal from the league.