A date has been set for Serie A to resume, after the Italian government gave the green light.
Italy’s top flight was the first to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with games postponed and played behind closed doors before the league was called to a halt.
The Bundesliga has already restarted, with La Liga to return June 3 and the Premier League later in the month.
On Thursday health minister Vincenzo Spadafora held a conference call with stakeholders where it was confirmed that football can resume on June 20 with the aim of finishing by August 31.
Matches will be played every three days until the top flight and Coppa Italia can be completed, with Juventus holding a one point lead over Lazio at the top.
The Italian players’ union, the AIC, had raised concerns about playing afternoon matches in June and July due to high temperatures.
To mitigate that matches it's expected that matches will be played in three time slots, namely 17.15 local time (16.15 UK time), 19.30 and 21.45.
Spadafora said after the summit: "The meeting was very useful.
"Now Italy is starting again and it is right that football should also start again.
"If the curve of infections changes and the league is forced to stop again, the FIGC has assured me that there is a plan B, play-offs, and plan C, freezing the table as it stands.
"In light of all this we can say that the league will resume on June 20."
It has also been confirmed that if any player tests positive his whole team will have to be quarantined, highlighting the need for backup plans.
However, that could be eased if the situation with COVID-19 in Italy continues to improve.
As well as the rest of the league season, there are a number of matches still to fit in, with games from matchday 25 still to be played as well as the Coppa Italia semi-finals.
The postponed cup matches will be played on June 13, which required an exception to a previous decree banning professional sport until June 14.
The final is scheduled to be played on June 17.
The matches left to be played from week 25 are Atalanta vs Sassuolo, Inter vs Sampdoria, Torino vs Parma and Verona vs Cagliari
Italian FA (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina said earlier on Thursday: “Only the immediate return to the field will allow Italian football to cushion the collapse of revenues in the short term, estimated at over €700million, more than €500million generated by the stop due to COVID-19.
“The task of the FIGC is to do everything it can, while always respecting the health of all those involved, to get things restarted and stop this crisis from irreparably compromising the love of the Italian people for this wonderful game.”
