Salernitana-Nocerina has been abandoned in Lega Pro after an extraordinary series of events.
The local derby started 40 minutes late because the Nocerina players arrived at the stadium and refused to get off the team bus.
They had reportedly received threats from their own fans before the game and were extremely nervous.
Salernitana-Nocerina has been abandoned in Lega Pro after an extraordinary series of events.
The local derby started 40 minutes late because the Nocerina players arrived at the stadium and refused to get off the team bus.
They had reportedly received threats from their own fans before the game and were extremely nervous.
After negotiations with the Lega Pro representatives at the stadium, Nocerina agreed to play, but it only appeared to be a ruse.
After two minutes Nocerina made three substitutions, then over the next 17 minutes another five players limped off with ‘injuries.’
Ficarrotta of Nocerina and Salernitana’s Iannarilli were also sent off for a scuffle.
This left Nocerina with only six players on the pitch, forcing the referee to suspend the game definitively.
It's reported Nocerina fans threatened the players because they had been banned from attending, so wanted to stop the game from going ahead.
The entire Nocerina Board of Directors has now resigned and players ordered not to speak to the media. Director of Sport Pavarese is trying to defend his team, assuring the three substitutions after two minutes were "a management decision" and the injuries were "because they went out there without warming up."
The Lega Pro is not fooled and warned the Coach "must explain why he made three substitutions after two minutes." The Disciplinary Commission has opened an investigation.
“This is a terrible page in the history of football,” said Salernitana Coach Carlo Perrone.
“We need to ask ourselves how this could’ve happened. I am a man of sport and right now feel terribly disappointed.”