The return of Salernitana to Serie A had all of a beautiful story. A popular club, a strong identity and a player of international standing. Administrative setbacks and a health crisis later, this return turns into a long way of the cross. Tuesday, December 21, the club, under the threat of exclusion from the championship on December 31, gave up going to Udine on the instruction of the health authorities, after cases of Covid-19 in its workforce, to play a match there.
But for its part, the League confirmed that the kick-off was maintained at 6.30 p.m., for this meeting counting for the 19th day of Serie A, returning the “decision” on the sports judge who will have to decide between a possible match lost on the green carpet or a postponement.
La Salernitana has “noted” from “provisions of the local health authorities of Salerno who requested the suspension of the team’s activity and banned it from participating in sporting events” after “proven cases” of Covid-19. Franck Ribéry’s club is currently last in the championship.
In addition to this problem, which could cost the club a precious victory in its quest for maintenance, it is also mired in administrative setbacks. That same day, the Italian Federation confirmed that Salernitana would be excluded from Serie A if the club, co-owned by Lazio Rome boss Claudio Lotito, did not change owners by December 31.
If no buyer is then identified, the club will be “out”, told the press, the president of the Federation (FIGC) Gabriele Gravina, after a federal council, dismissing any “extension”: “The standard is clear, two Serie A clubs with the same owner, this is no longer possible”.
The independent directors appointed in June to organize the sale announced last week the lack of compliant or financially supported offers among those that have reached them. They asked for a new deadline, a request supported by the Serie A clubs unanimously.
The Federation gave the green light for Salernitana’s accession to Serie A in July, but granted six months of time to comply with the regulations, which prohibit two clubs from the same division can belong to the same owner. .
President Gravina said to himself, however “certain that in ten days the Salernitana will be sold”. “We cannot continue to reason as if there is no offer. There are expressions of interest, we have to find a solution”, added the person in charge of the FIGC.
Second in Serie B last season, the club located south of Naples is playing its third season in its history at the highest echelon of Italian football. With only two wins in 18 days (two draws and fourteen losses), the club are currently five points behind the first non-relegation, La Spezia (17th).