FIGC President Gabriele Gravina confirmed today that the deadline for Salernitana to find a new buyer is December 31, otherwise ‘they will be out of Serie A’ from January 1.
The Lega Serie A clubs had voted unanimously to delay the deadline to June so that Salernitana can see out the full season.
However, the ultimate decision is with the Federation and they are refusing to budge on the existing rules.
Salernitana knew once they achieved promotion from Serie B in May that they had to find a new owner, because current patron Claudio Lotito is already President of Lazio.
It is against the rules for one person or company to run two clubs in the same division in Italy.
Despite postponing the deadline several times and putting the club into a ‘blind trust’ so they could begin the season, Salernitana do not have any suitable offers to buy Lotito out.
“If they do not find a new buyer within the next 10 days, Salernitana will be out of Serie A from January 1,” declared FIGC President Gravina today at a press conference.
“I hope that Salernitana will find a new buyer in 10 days and I remain convinced it is possible. My respect for the city of Salerno and the team’s fans remains absolute and I showed that from when I first broached the subject in May.
“Something is not right here and it is up to the trustees to resolve it. I can give a great city hope, but I cannot make any promises. I am simply maintaining the path we have been on since the start.”
If Salernitana are excluded from Serie A, it means the second half of the season will be played with only 19 clubs rather than 20.
All of Salernitana’s results thus far will be excised from the table, which shouldn’t make a huge difference, seeing as they have only picked up eight points in 18 games.
It is entirely possible Salernitana have already played their final Serie A match of the season, because their planned trip to Udinese this evening is scrapped after a COVID outbreak.
Rispetto dell’atto costitutivo del Trust della Salernitana. Gravina: “Se entro 10 giorni non si trova un acquirente è fuori”https://t.co/Zz7Ru0n9P8 pic.twitter.com/U1H24OuSF1
— FIGC (@FIGC) December 21, 2021
Well… I am not sure this is a great way to convince Lotito to sell. So if I had to guess, Salernitana will be expunged. Will they really play the 2nd half of the season in Serie B? Seems outlandish but that is what the FIGC is insisting on.
The biggest loser in all of this is of course Gagliardini, who will not be pleased to see his goal and assist taken off his highlight reel.
Gravina should be terminated as of January 2
“All of Salernitana’s results thus far will be excised from the table, which shouldn’t make a huge difference, seeing as they have only picked up eight points in 18 games”.
Its making a huge difference to Salernitana, instead of punishing the club and its fans punish the damn owner who did this. The people at FIGC are supposed to be protecting clubs not destroying them, maybe they should have stopped them from being promoted from Serie B instead they will drop them to Serie D or worse now
Will the points won against them be excised also?