December 22 – Recently promoted Salernitana will be kicked out of Serie A if they do not find a new owner by December 31, according to Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Gabriele Gravina.
The team from Salerno were promoted from Serie B for the first time in 23 years last season but their owner, Claudio Lotito, also owns Lazio.
Ownership of more than one team in the same division is banned in Italy and although control of Salernitana was handed to a trust, they have been unable to find a replacement for Lolito.
“There won’t be any let-offs when it comes to the December 31 deadline for the sale of Salernitana,” Gravina said after a meeting of the FIGC council. “If there are not any new developments by December 31, Salernitana are out”.
Salernitana are rock bottom of the league with eight points from 18 games and their clash at Udinese was called off on Tuesday when they were forbidden from travelling due to COVID concerns.
While Udinese warmed up for the match as normal at their home ground, the visitors never showed up.
The same situation happened last season between Juventus and Napoli, with the away side having to forfeit the match. Napoli eventually won an appeal, however, and the match was replayed.
Salernitana’s sporting director Angelo Fabiani said they were simply following orders.
“It isn’t up to us, we paid for a plane journey and then spent more on a charter flight. But if the authorities ban you from going, what can we do?” he said.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1736561824labto1736561824ofdlr1736561824owedi1736561824sni@w1736561824ahsra1736561824w.wer1736561824dna1736561824