Serie A Changes Postponed Games Rules

The Italian top division, Serie A, will see a major change in terms of postponed games. All postponed games will be played in the next 24 hours to maintain the flow and avoid fixture-related chaos. The new rules say that all games that have been delayed due to unavoidable circumstances like bad weather, national mourning, or other factors will now be rescheduled within the next 24 hours.

Exceptions are permissible only under extreme or exceptional circumstances, if the venue remains unsafe to play due to government restrictions. The new rules also suggest that if games have to be stopped midway, they will resume from wherever it was left incomplete. Also, players who were suspended or shown a card in the game before will remain suspended.

Why was this New Serie A Postponed Games Rule Necessary?

After Pope Francis' demise, many games in Serie A were postponed, causing fixture imbalance. Many teams allegedly complained that this led to a lot of chaos, and it also served as an added advantage for teams after they got ample time to prepare. This rule was necessary as it reduces the fixture backlog and minimizes disruption. Supporters also receive clarity instead of long delays impacting travel and ticket plans. Most importantly, the competitive fairness remains intact due to short delays.

When Postponed Games Led to Competitive Imbalance in Serie A

Last season, after Pope Francis' death, four Serie A games were postponed on 21 April, three games rescheduled due to the funeral schedule, and Leece vs Atlanta was postponed after the death of Leece's physiotherapist.

Inter Milan's postponement against Roma worked wonders for the reigning European finalists as they got time to prepare while also playing UCL games. Lazio and Juventus also faced complications after their games against Genoa and Parma were rescheduled, forcing them to play quickly after their European fixtures.