New season dates revealed

Lega Calcio President Antonio Matarrese & FIGC President Giancarlo Abete

The Lega Calcio has tonight released the schedule for Serie A next season – and there’s bad news for Roberto Donadoni and the national side.

The FIGC had originally asked for the campaign to begin on August 19 to help the Azzurri squad to prepare for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against France on September 8 and Ukraine on September 12.

However, Donadoni’s request fell on deaf ears and it has been decided that the big kick-off will be on August 26 instead.

As regards the Italian Footballers' Association's desire to do away with midweek rounds and evening kick-offs during the winter months, the Lega has decided that there will be no midweek rounds in the months of November, December, January and February, but that there will be Saturday and Sunday evening kick-offs in Serie A.

The new Serie B season will also start on the same weekend, with the opening matches on August 25. Serie B officials also decided to keep the play-off and play-out format to determine promotions and relegations at the Italian Football League meeting.


Serie A kick-off:
August 26, 2007

Midweek rounds:
September 26, 2007
October 31, 2007
February 27, 2008
March 19, 2008

International breaks (Euro 2008 qualifiers):
September 9, 2007
October 14, 2007
November 18, 2007

Winter break:
December 30, 2007
January 6, 2008

League Resumes:
January 13, 2008

Serie A end:
May 18, 2008

Serie B kick-off:
August 25, 2007

Serie B end:
June 1, 2008

Source: C4 Football Italia / Lega Calcio