Serie A Matches Postponed Due to Pope Francis’s Funeral
In light of the funeral of Pope Francis, which is scheduled to take place in Rome, Serie A has announced the postponement of three matches originally slated for Saturday. The decision comes as Italy prepares to honor the late Pope, who passed away at the age of 88.
Revised Fixture Schedule
The league confirmed that the much-anticipated match between Inter and Roma at San Siro has been rescheduled to Sunday at 2 PM BST. This adjustment follows earlier discussions about possibly allowing the fixture to proceed on Saturday to provide Inter with additional rest in preparation for their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.
Impact on Other Sporting Events
The funeral of Pope Francis has prompted not only changes in football but also in rugby, as Italy’s Women’s Six Nations match against Wales will be rescheduled. The alternative dates being considered for this match are Friday and Sunday, although an official announcement from Six Nations organizers has yet to be made. Wales, currently struggling in this tournament, faces potential disappointment with the prospect of finishing last if they are defeated by Italy.
Other Rescheduling Details
As part of the scheduling adjustments, Lazio’s match against Parma, initially set for Saturday, will now take place on Monday evening at 7:45 PM. Similarly, Como’s home game versus Genoa has been moved to Sunday at 11:30 AM. Earlier this week, Serie A had already postponed matches scheduled for Easter Monday due to the Pope’s passing.
Adjustments in Rugby Union
In rugby union, the United Rugby Championship has also made changes with Zebre Parma scheduled to host Edinburgh on Friday evening at 7:35 PM, moving away from their previously planned Saturday match.
Tennis Tournament Status
The Roma Garden Open, a clay-court ATP Challenger tournament, was expected to wrap up this weekend. However, no revised schedule has been announced yet, leaving participants and fans awaiting further updates.
As Italy prepares to mourn the loss of Pope Francis, the rescheduling of these sporting events reflects the country’s efforts to pay the appropriate respects to a significant leader.
