04 October 2020
Juventus-Napoli could not be played due to the absence of the opposing club, which remained in Campania after the indication of the ASL in Naples, following two players having tested positive for COVID-19. The Bianconeri, who are currently in fiduciary isolation since yesterday after two staff members tested positive, have been in full compliance with the protocols. This evening, they presented themselves at the Allianz Stadium and the match, 45 minutes after the scheduled start, was declared called off by Mr. Doveri, the designated referee for the match.
President Andrea Agnelli, together with Dr. Luca Stefanini, Juventus Head of Medical, spoke about what happened. These are their statements:
ANDREA AGNELLI
“We were here to attend one of the greatest matches in the Italian league and instead we find ourselves managing an apparently complex situation, deriving from the positivity of the team’s members. In reality, it is a simple situation: we have the FIGC protocol, which refers to a circular of the Ministry of Health, approved by the CTS, and this says that in the event of a positive result of one of its members, the group must go into fiduciary isolation in a structure indicated at the Territorial ASL. Once the group enters the so-called "bubble", activity takes place in a normal way: you train, and you play home and away games, as everything is perfectly regulated. This is what we did: we learned about the positive outcome of two individuals in the group, we isolated ourselves in the “bubble” and came here to play the game, respecting the protocol. I emphasize that the ministerial circular is in command, not the local authority. ASL intervenes when the protocol is not observed.
“I believe that the one drawn up by the Federation is a good protocol, even if it is clearly a living document, which will be updated based on the cases that arise. The important thing is that at the base, there is the desire to play and the principle of sporting loyalty. I seemed to understand that there is a great understanding between the Federation and the competent Ministries, and they will be the ones to intervene in the event that there are changes to a document that has in any case allowed other teams, even if affected by positive cases, to play scheduled matches, both at home and away, also in this round of the championship.
“What has been done by the Federation and Uefa is an excellent job and leaves me calm about being able to complete the competitions. The sporting rules are equally clear and say that if a team does not show up, they face disciplinary sanctions. The Sporting Judge will speak tomorrow, and based on his decision, there will be further reflections. It is evident that the fact that a team does not reach a stadium to play a planned match does not give a great image of Italian football, but we are provincial and we care little about what happens outside our borders, without considering the damage we do to the football internationally.
“We fill our mouths about wanting to develop football, but we don't have the sensibility to go from an idea to an initiative. This is why I am in favour of Dal Pino's proposal to find a serious partner to entrust with the development of the League. Did I speak to De Laurentis? He texted me a couple of days ago, asking me to postpone the match. My answer was that Juventus abides by the regulations.”
LUCA STEFANINI
“The latest indications from the Federation provide that the team will undergo a swab no later than 48 hours before the match. So we did that yesterday, and when the two positive staff members emerged, they were immediately isolated. At the same time, the need to apply the protocol has arisen, which provides for the convocation of all members of the team in the agreed structure with the local health authority. Subsequently, new swabs must be made on the day of the match, which must give the result four hours before kick-off. If a new positive case emerges, the person is isolated, while the others can play the game. We did a new round of swabbing today, and there were no further positive cases compared to yesterday, so the whole group was able to be present at the stadium to take part in the match.
“The application of the protocol is always carried out in agreement with the local health authorities and if Juventus had not respected the protocol there would have been the intervention of a delegated authority. Medicine is not an exact science, the protocol may undergo changes, but the current one has been designed to allow the continuation of the championship.”
