Serie A: Players doing all they can to pitch in during pandemic

Serie A may be halted because of the coronavirus outbreak, but that doesn’t mean clubs can’t contribute in other meaningful ways.

Italy’s soccer stadiums may be empty, but that doesn’t mean Serie A teams and players haven’t done their part to combat the coronavirus pandemic amid the country’s strict lockdown orders.

In their own special ways, clubs are trying to help their cities and fans. That has taken on many forms, from delivering meals to elderly residents to players taking pay cuts in anticipation of the season possibly returning by the summer.

Roma employees delivered care packages to their elderly season-ticket holders and their families as residents remain at home to stop the spread of the deadly virus. The death toll surpassed 10,000 at the end of last month.

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The lack of games has also led to economic problems. In response, Juventus players have agreed to take a wage cut totaling $100 million. In a statement, the club said: “The understanding provides for the reduction of the compensation for an amount equal to the monthly payments of March, April, May and June 2020.”

That means, should the season resume, that the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo could be playing for free, although the team did say that a compensation package would be re-negotiated. Three of the club’s players, striker Paulo Dybala, defender Daniele Rugani and midfielder Blaise Matuidi, have all tested positive for the virus.

Lionel Messi, who plays for Barcelona, made a similar agreement last month with the Catalan club (along with his teammates), another selfless act during the global crisis.

For Italian clubs, the strict lockdown by government decree mean teams will have to deal with the financial hit that comes with not playing games. The league had considered playoffs to determine a champion, but that was rejected by clubs.

Juventus was also one of the first teams to launch a GoFundMe account for hospitals in Turin during COVID-19, tapping into their millions of fans around the world to help get doctors much-needed equipment such as ventilators and surgical masks.

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Another superstar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, now with AC Milan, launched a fundraiser to get funds to Italian hospitals. He called on the world to “kick the coronavirus away,” channeling his many followers on social media around the world in an effort to raise money for those trying to save lives.

The city of Bergamo has been the epicenter of Italy’s coronavirus outbreak. The city’s team, Atalanta, had brought joy to fans before the outbreak, but that seems to be a distant memory these days.

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The team has continued to encourage the city to defeat the virus through their social media accounts. Hope and sacrifice are the words of the moment as Italians wait for their beloved sport to return and life as usual to come back soon. The stadiums remain empty, but the teams are trying their best to do what’s best during this very difficult time.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.