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The second leg of the Serie B relegation playoff between Salernitana and Sampdoria descended into chaos on Sunday as crowd disturbances forced the match to be abandoned. The visitors were 2-0 ahead on the night and 4-0 up on aggregate when the referee was left with no choice but to halt proceedings in the 65th minute due to projectiles being thrown onto the pitch by home supporters at Stadio Arechi.
Tensions boiled over after Sampdoria’s second goal, prompting Salernitana fans to launch smoke bombs, firecrackers, and even stadium seats onto the field. The match, already delayed due to a major illness outbreak in the Salernitana camp, could not be restarted despite efforts from the officials and police intervention.
Italian media report that Sampdoria, 1991 Serie A champions, are expected to be handed a 3-0 win, securing a 5-0 aggregate triumph and retaining their place in Serie B. The result would mark a remarkable turnaround for the Genoa club, who had initially been relegated to Serie C before being granted a playoff berth following Brescia’s eight-point deduction for financial breaches.
The escalating hostility from the stands brought the match to a standstill. Riot police entered the scene, and although referee Daniele Doveri attempted a brief restart, further crowd disruptions made continuation impossible.
Salernitana’s relegation was confirmed in ugly fashion after a turbulent campaign marked by back-to-back drops from Serie A to now Serie C. The club’s CEO, Maurizio Milan, addressed the media in the aftermath. “We hoped to [restart] from [Serie B], we’ll do it from Serie C,” he said. “We know very well that the third division is very complicated. We’ll start again immediately, learning from our mistakes.”
The season’s end brings a bitter conclusion for Salernitana, who finished 16th in Serie B after their relegation from the top flight in 2023–24. Their demotion comes as part of a chaotic reshuffling, initially involving Frosinone, who were spared relegation following Brescia’s penalty.
Meanwhile, Sampdoria's survival completes an improbable escape act, a silver lining to a turbulent season that once seemed destined for disaster. Pasquale Marino’s squad, left reeling by a poor campaign, will now prepare for another year in Serie B.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / jorono, Instagram / @sampdoria
