2019–20 Serie C

The 2019–20 Serie C was the sixth season of the unified Serie C division, the third tier of the Italian football league system. The season was scheduled to run from 24 August 2019 to 26 April 2020, however, on 9 March 2020, the Italian government halted the league until 3 April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.^[7] Serie C did not resume play on this date.^[9] On 18 May, it was announced that Italian football would be suspended until 14 June.^[10]

On 8 June, the Italian Football Federation formally declared

• Padova
• Carpi

Promoted from Serie D

• Lecco (Girone A winners)
• Como (Girone B winners)
• Arzignano Valchiampo
  (Girone C winners)
• Pergolettese
  (Girone D winners)
• Pianese
  (Girone E winners)
• Cesena
  (Girone F winners)
• Avellino
  (Girone G winners)
• Picerno (Girone H winners)
• Bari
  (Girone I winners)

Readmissions

Following the disbandment of

• Virtus Verona^[12]
• Fano^[12]
• Paganese^[12]
• Bisceglie^[13]

• Modena^[12]
• Reggio Audace^[12]

On 23 July, the Court of the CONI overturned the original decision from the FIGC by declaring both Bisceglie and Audace Cerignola's readmission requests as valid, thus creating uncertainty on the new format and even opening doors to a potential 21-team Group C.[14]

On 25 July, the FIGC readmitted Bisceglie to Serie C, whereas, in spite of the ruling by the Court of the CONI, Audace Cerignola's request was rejected due to alleged stadium irregularities.^[13] On August 5, however, CONI once again overturned the FIGC's decision not to admit Audace Cerignola to Serie C.^[15]

On 10 September, Lazio's Regional Administrative Tribunal denied Audace Cerignola's appeal for readmission, by suspending the measures for which CONI had used to readmit the club into Serie C. A new hearing was set for February 11, 2020, at which time a repecheage would no longer be possible, which effectively left the club in Serie D.^[16]

COVID-19 pandemic suspension

On 9 March 2020, the Lega Pro committee announced the suspension of the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

On 8 May 2020, the league committee formally proposed the Italian Football Federation to end the season altogether and award promotion to the three league toppers (Monza, Vicenza and Reggina), plus Carpi for having the highest point-per-game ratio among all other teams by the time of the suspension, and block all relegations to Serie D.^[17] This proposal was however rejected by the Italian Football Federation on 20 May, as they objected the Serie C season will have to end as planned, with 20 August as the formal deadline to complete it.^[18]

On 8 June, the Italian Football Federation formally declared the end of the Serie C regular season; Monza, Vicenza and Reggina were awarded promotion to Serie B, while Gozzano, Rimini and Rieti were relegated to Serie D. Promotion and relegation playoffs will take place as planned, albeit on a voluntary basis.^[11]

Following the deliberation from the Italian Football Federation,

8 teams from Lombardy, 6 teams from Tuscany, 5 teams from Piedmont and 1 team from Sardinia.