Former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino threatens to forfeit Serie A games

Former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has threatened to pull Brescia out of Serie A action should the current football season resume.

His outfit sit bottom of Italy's top flight, with the 63-year-old claiming he will ensure his side forfeit any remaining games if football restarts or continues the current campaign later in the year.

Domestic leagues across Europe have been put on hold indefinitely amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Italy is one of the worst hit countries to suffer from the virus, with all sport suspended until further notice during the nationwide lockdown.

Cellino believes that is impossible to conclude the season under the circumstances, and called it a 'cursed title' last week.

"This season doesn’t make sense any more,” Cellino told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We’ve stopped, no team will return as before, the matches will be behind closed doors, plus there’s a risk to the health of the athletes. For me to go back to business is pure madness.

"If they force us to play, I’d be willing to not field the team and lose the matches 3-0 out of respect for the citizens of Brescia and their loved ones who are no longer there.”

Cellino refuted claims that voiding the season suited his side, given Brescia sit rooted to the bottom of the table and are nine points from safety.

"I don’t care at all about relegation,” Cellino said. “So far we have deserved it and I have my blame in that, too.

"The season has to finish on June 30, the deadline for the presentation of club balance sheets and players’ contracts.

"To extend the season, we need to change all the national and international rules: players’ contracts, balance sheets, deadlines with the banks, the transfer market, preparation, start of the new season.

"It will be absolute chaos and for what?"