Serie B Relegation Playoff Abandoned Amid Fan Disorder
While America prepares to welcome countries from all around the world to the FIFA World Cup, after rising to the championship in their respective countries’ games, in Italy, there seem to have been some issues with fan conduct on the field. Recently, it was reported that the second leg of the Serie B Relegation Playoff between hosts Salernitana and Sampdoria was abandoned on Sunday after home fans threw smoke bombs and seats onto the pitch. Salernitana, who face relegation to Italy's third tier after dropping out of Serie A 12 months ago, were unable to train on Monday. "We are truly shocked by what happened and by the series of events that risk jeopardising Salernitana's smooth and peaceful approach to the final and crucial minutes of the season," club CEO Maurizio Milan said. "Many players and staff, at the moment, are not even able to show up at the sports centre to resume training."
Salernitana has also called for an investigation into the "causes of this widespread and serious episode". They had been due to play Frosinone in the relegation play-off, but a four-point deduction for Brescia because of financial irregularities meant they were automatically relegated in place of Sampdoria, who then replaced Frosinone in the play-off. Sampdoria were leading 2-0 when the match was initially postponed in the 65th minute as Salernitana fans hurled objects onto the pitch. Play briefly resumed but was ultimately abandoned amid chaotic scenes at the Stadio Arechi.
According to Italian media, Sampdoria are likely to be awarded a 3-0 win. Which would secure a 5-0 aggregate victory and guarantee their escape from what had seemed certain relegation to the third tier. Sampdoria, Italian champions in 1991, were initially relegated to Serie C for the first time in their 78-year history, only to be handed a lifeline after the season ended when Brescia were docked eight points, dropping them below Sampdoria and granting the Genoa club a place in the relegation playoff. Salernitana also suffered a setback after being hit by food poisoning, which led to the second leg being postponed following Sampdoria's 2–0 home win in the first match.
