Salernitana finished 16th in the Serie B table, one point and one place above Sampdoria Sampdoria avoided a first relegation to the third tier of Italian football despite their Serie B relegation play-off against Salernitana being abandoned after 65 minutes. The former Serie A champions were leading 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate when players were ordered off the field because of unrest from Salernitana supporters in the stands. Anger began early on in the match when Gian Marco Ferrari thought he had given Salernitana the lead midway through the first half, only for his goal to be ruled out for handball. Four minutes later Massimo Coda scored for Sampdoria before Giuseppe Sibilli made it 4-0 on aggregate just after the break. The home fans in Salerno immediately turned on their team following the second goal, with relegation to Serie C looking all but certain. Flares, firecrackers and chairs were thrown on to the field and the game was halted numerous times before the players were taken off the field with 65 minutes on the clock. With players of both sides in the dressing room, riot police tried to restore order to the situation. Referee Daniele Doveri attempted to get the game restarted 10 minutes later but objects began to rain down once again and the match was abandoned. Salernitana only needed an aggregate draw to stay up because of their higher placing in the table. The second leg of the play-off, which was originally scheduled for Friday, took place on Sunday following asevere food poisoning outbreakin the Salernitana camp. A formal request to reschedule the match was accepted after 21 of their travelling party became ill following last week's 2-0 first-leg defeat.
Sampdoria avoid relegation despite abandonment
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Sampdoria Secures Serie B Status Following Abandoned Play-Off Match"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Sampdoria managed to avoid relegation to the third tier of Italian football despite the abandonment of their Serie B relegation play-off match against Salernitana. The match, which was halted after 65 minutes, saw Sampdoria leading 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate. The game was interrupted due to disturbances caused by Salernitana supporters, who reacted angrily after their team fell behind. The tension escalated when Salernitana's Gian Marco Ferrari had a potential opening goal ruled out for handball, leading to frustration among home fans. Shortly thereafter, Sampdoria's Massimo Coda scored, followed by another goal from Giuseppe Sibilli, which effectively sealed Salernitana's fate. The home supporters expressed their displeasure, throwing flares, firecrackers, and even chairs onto the field, prompting officials to stop the game multiple times before the players were eventually taken off for safety reasons.
As the situation escalated, riot police were deployed to restore order, but attempts to resume the match were unsuccessful due to continued unrest. With Salernitana needing only a draw on aggregate to avoid relegation, the abandonment meant they were unable to secure their place in Serie B. The match was initially scheduled for Friday but was postponed to Sunday after a severe food poisoning outbreak affected 21 members of the Salernitana team following their first-leg defeat. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by clubs in the lower tiers of Italian football, where fan unrest and health issues can significantly impact match outcomes and team fates. Ultimately, Sampdoria's position in the league remained intact, allowing them to avoid a first relegation to Serie C, while Salernitana's season ended in turmoil and disappointment for their supporters.
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