#TBT: FOOTBALL COMES TO A HALT

Countless matches have been postponed of late, with teams having already arrived in the city or even been ready to head to the stadium itself. These are moments where everyone is doing everything possible to play, but also everything possible to stay safe. It's in these times that we need to take stock of reality, of sanitation and public health. The answer is no football, no big coming togethers, no sporting events and none of the passion and adrenaline that all of these things bring with them.

It's March 2020. Lots of people have fallen sick, and lots of people are fighting for their lives. Football has to do its part and take a break. 15 years ago, still in March, the game of football also famously came to a halt across the country.

March 2005 was also a difficult time for Italians, many of whom were unable to leave their homes. They wanted to be in Rome, they wanted to be in front of the TV or listening to the radio in the car. Because they wanted to receive all the latest updates regarding Pope John Paul II's health and be there in spirit during his final days. When the Pope's condition deteriorated between 30 and 31 March, thoughts turned away from the fierce battle that was going on between AC Milan and Juventus for the Scudetto title and from all the arguments and controversies of the football world.

Hour after hour, day after day, Serie A understood that, just like the rest of the world, the league needed to come to a halt. Not for three weeks, not to safeguard public health, but for Italian football's soul.

Fondazione Milan has set up a fundraising programme to support the daily efforts made by AREU, the emergency response arm of the Lombardy regional government. Join us in supporting those who are fighting every day to face the Covid-19 emergency: https://www.gofundme.com/f/emergenza-coronavirus-ospedali!