ROME (AP) — For a competition that has always held holidays as sacrosanct, Serie A is taking a big break from tradition this week.
Following the successful example of the English Premier League, the Italian league will play Serie A and Italian Cup matches over four of the next five days.
“The concept is simple. Professional soccer is an entertainment product and offering it during the holiday period is a great opportunity for those in charge,” Roma general manager Mauro Baldissoni told The Associated Press.
“The Premier League has shown that it works to offer this product during the holidays — both in terms of stadium attendance and international TV viewership.