Lega Pro side Nocerina have been charged with sporting fraud after the farcical derby with Salernitana on November 10.
Lega Pro side Nocerina have been charged with sporting fraud after the farcical derby with Salernitana on November 10.
The game made headlines around the world when Nocerina players at first refused to leave the team bus, then made three substitutions in the opening minutes and another five went off with ‘injuries.’
As Nocerina were left with only six players on the pitch, the referee had no choice but to abandon the match in Italy’s Third Division.
It later emerged the squad had received threats from their own fans and were terrified of taking part in the game.
Now the FIGC Disciplinary Commission has charged Nocerina and 17 of their members – including 11 players – of sporting fraud.
President Luigi Benevento and directors Giovanni Citarella, Luigi Pavarese, Coach Gaetano Fontana, assistant manager Salvatore Fusco and chief medic Giovanni Rosati have all been charged.
The players accused of sporting fraud are Carlo Cremaschi, Domenico Danti, Davide Evacuo, Luca Ficarrotta, Edmunde Etse Hottor, Celso Daniel Jara Martinez, Iuzvisen Petar Kostadinovic, Franco Lepore, Giancarlo Malcore, Carmine Polichetti and Lorenzo Remedi.
They are accused of “before and during the game agreed between them to alter the regular completion of the game Salernitana-Nocerina.
“They agreed to three substitutions in the opening minute and simulated, over 16 minutes from the 4th to the 19th, five injuries to ensure the game would have to be suspended.”
Nocerina protested the charges, as President Benevento insisted “this club never incentivised, nor aided, the decision not to step on to the pitch. On the contrary, the club did everything possible to make the players take part in the game despite their evident fear, as they were threatened in the training retreat and then almost forced to play by the security officials who met them on the bus.”