Dino Zoff: It’s unthinkable to imagine players celebrating while so many people are dying

Dino Zoff says UEFA should give the Scottish authorities their blessing to call the Premiership season.

However, as an opponent of the Europe-wide lobby to get the game restarted as soon as possible, he argues protecting public health must continue to take priority.

The World Cup winner and former manager of Italy has been horrified by the way coronavirus has ravaged his country, with more than 25,500 people losing their lives.

“The first thing I want to say is that it would be immoral to go back to playing the Serie A championship while there are still more than 400 deaths a day in Italy,” said Zoff.

“We have to remember that football is a sport.

“It is unthinkable to imagine players celebrating a goal while there are so many people dying.

“I don’t want football to become a happy bubble.

“I hear all the time from players excited to think they will be playing again soon.

“Meanwhile there are hundreds of sick people who are getting no access to tests for coronavirus.

“If the tests are there for the players, then they must be there for everyone – otherwise you are talking about social injustice.

“UEFA has given some guidelines, and to me they seem acceptable.

“Finish the championships first, in countries where it is possible to so do in complete safety, and then complete the European club competitions.

“But there will be different solutions for different situations.

“If the SPFL ask UEFA to ratify the early closure of their top league, then I believe UEFA should accept their request.

“The Eredivisie in Holland has been cancelled without any champions, with no football to be played until September.

“Deciding this question based on final standings is another solution, but then there can be problems with relegation and promotion.

“I have also heard the talk of play-offs, which could be a solution for countries which run out of time to complete all unfulfilled fixtures.

“In Serie A, if you look at the table as it finished, it is a head-to-head match between Lazio and Juventus, who are one point better off.

“I was a player and coach of Juventus, then coach of Lazio, so I’d don’t support either. I just say may the best team win!

“Whatever resolution countries choose, there are going to be winners and losers.

“Some will be happy with the decisions made, and others will be left dissatisfied.

“Only in time will we really know the right answers, but I think all this season’s titles will be remembered as having been won in a time of Covid-19.”

Zoff, who won 112 caps in an illustrious goalkeeping career, is an opponent of the Bundesliga’s move to play spectator-free games from early next month.

“For me, it does not seem the right thing to do. Maybe later,” said the 78-year-old.

“These games will have at least 200 people inside the stadium. That’s 200 people who then go home and meet family members.

“The risk of infection sounds high.

“Also, I think football loses its appeal when it is played behind closed doors.

“Without the fans at the stadium, there seems almost no point in playing.

“Even footballers would find it difficult to always play in an empty stadium, with no singing and no celebrations.”