2020-21 Serie A season to begin Sept. 19; winter break shortened

The 2020-21 Serie A campaign will kick off on Sept. 19, one week later than originally planned.

The decision satisfies "the preference already expressed ... by the majority of the clubs in a meeting dedicated to this topic," the league said in Monday's statement, as quoted by Reuters.

To compensate for the later start - the 2019-20 term began on Aug. 24, 2019, and ran until Sunday's late conclusion - the winter break will be shorter than usual. Matches will also be contested on both Jan. 3 and Jan. 6.

The 2019-20 campaign was postponed for three months due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.