Latest news with #Sampdoria
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Sampdoria handed relegation lifeline as former Italian champions look to avoid new low
Former Italian champions Sampdoria have been handed a dramatic relegation reprieve despite finishing the season in the bottom three after Brescia were dealt a points deduction. The club appeared to have sealed their fate of a first-ever demotion to the Italian third tier when ending the Serie B campaign in 18th, one of three automatic relegation places. However, Brescia have now suffered a four-point deduction for financial irregularities, meaning Sampdoria have leapt above them into the relegation play-off, which are contest between 16th and 17th. Having never competed outside of Italy's top two divisions in their 79-year history, the club will now have the chance to avoid an ignominious new low against Salernitana, who are hoping to avoid back-to-back relegations after finishing rock bottom of Serie A in 2023/24. Sampdoria are not the only beneficiary of Brescia's punishment, with Frosinone - originally due to vie for survival in the play-off on May 19 - moving one place up and out of the play-off places. Italian football watchdog Covisoc's investigation of Brescia threw Serie B relegation proceedings into disarray, informing the league of their probe into the club five days after the conclusion of the regular season. This led to the play-off to be suspended amid the uncertainty of Brescia's status in the league. On top of the four-point deduction in the 2024/25 campaign, Brescia will also start their 2025/26 Serie C season with a four-point penalty. Their owner, former Leeds United chief Massimo Cellino, and his son and board member Edoardo, have been handed sixth-month bans. Sampdoria won Serie A in 1991 and last played in the top flight in 2023, having spent 18 of their last 19 seasons at the highest level of Italian football. Despite teetering on the brink of a first-ever relegation to Serie C, their squad boasts notable ex-Premier League stars in former Liverpool and Sunderland striker Fabio Borini, as well as M'Baye Niang, once of Watford and AC Milan.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Brescia points deduction offers Sampdoria relegation lifeline
ROME: Sampdoria could escape their first ever relegation to Italy's third division after Brescia were hit with a four-point deduction yesterday. Sampdoria drew their final game of the Serie B season 0-0 on May 13 to finish 18th in the 20-team division. The bottom three are all relegated while the teams in 16th and 17th meet in a two-leg playoff. Brescia finished two points and three places above Samp but on Thursday were punished by an Italian Football Federation (FIGC) tribunal for accounting and administrative infractions. Brescia dropped to 18th and face immediate relegation while Samp are heading for a two-legged play-off against Salernitana. The two matches are scheduled for June 15 and 20 June, which gives Brescia time to appeal. Sampdoria were Italian champions in 1991 and European Cup finalists the following year. They are one of seven Italian clubs who have played all their football in Serie A or Serie B and never dropped into Serie C. Sampdoria were relegated to Serie B in 2023. They were close to going bust but were saved by current president Matteo Manfredi and former Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani, who has since exited the club. The club's majority shareholder is Singaporean businessman Joseph Tey. Samp made the promotion playoffs last season but posted a loss of 40.7 million euros in their 2024 accounts. Club icons Alberico Evani and Attilio Lombardo were hired as coaches in April in an attempt to save Samp from the drop after significant transfer market activity both last summer and in January. Evani is Samp's fourth head coach of the season after Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Sottil and Leonardo Semplice.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Brescia relegated to Serie C after points deduction, Sampdoria to contest play-out
Brescia relegated to Serie C after points deduction, Sampdoria to contest play-out Italian side Brescia have been relegated to Serie C after they were docked eight points by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Thursday for a series of financial violations, meaning Sampdoria will contest a play-out to stay in the division. Brescia, who finished their Serie B campaign 15th and had avoided the relegation play-out thanks to head-to-head goal difference over 16th Frosinone, were deducted four points in the current season which dropped them to the third tier. They will serve another four-point deduction in the 2025-26 season. The club's president Massimo Cellino, formerly in charge of Leeds United, and managing director Edoardo Cellino were handed six-month bans by a FIGC tribunal. The bottom three teams in Serie B automatically drop to the third tier, while the teams finishing 16th and 17th contest a play-out to stay up. Brescia's relegation means that Frosinone earned Serie B safety, while Salernitana will face Sampdoria instead in the decider. The ruling is subject to appeal, a verdict of which is expected on June 12, Italian news agency ANSA reported. The play-out first leg is expected to be played on June 15, local media said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Brescia relegated to Serie C after points deduction, Sampdoria to contest play-out
May 29 (Reuters) - Italian side Brescia have been relegated to Serie C after they were docked eight points by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Thursday for a series of financial violations, meaning Sampdoria will contest a play-out to stay in the division. Brescia, who finished their Serie B campaign 15th and had avoided the relegation play-out thanks to head-to-head goal difference over 16th Frosinone, were deducted four points in the current season which dropped them to the third tier. They will serve another four-point deduction in the 2025-26 season. The club's president Massimo Cellino, formerly in charge of Leeds United, and managing director Edoardo Cellino were handed six-month bans by a FIGC tribunal. The bottom three teams in Serie B automatically drop to the third tier, while the teams finishing 16th and 17th contest a play-out to stay up. Brescia's relegation means that Frosinone earned Serie B safety, while Salernitana will face Sampdoria instead in the decider. The ruling is subject to appeal, a verdict of which is expected on June 12, Italian news agency ANSA reported. The play-out first leg is expected to be played on June 15, local media said.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Brescia relegated to Serie C after points deduction, Sampdoria in relegation play-off
Brescia have been relegated to Italy's Serie C after being deducted four points for financial irregularities, meaning Sampdoria will now take part in a relegation play-off game, despite finishing the season in the relegation places. Frosinone, who were originally scheduled to play Salernitana in the play-off on May 19, move up one place as a result of Brescia's docked points and are now safe from relegation. Advertisement Three teams are relegated automatically from Serie B, with 16th and 17th contesting a relegation play-off. The Italian football watchdog has been investigating financial irregularities at Brescia, throwing the conclusion of the Serie B season into chaos. The investigation was related to an irregularity in their payment of salaries and tax contributions in February. Covisoc — Italian football's supervisory body — informed the league of the investigation five days after the conclusion of the regular season and the play-off was postponed amid the uncertainty. Brescia originally finished 15th in Serie B on 43 points. Having been found to have breached the rules, their four-point deduction takes them into 18th and into the automatic relegation places. This moves previously-relegated Sampdoria into the relegation play-off, where they will take on Salernitana, and guarantees Frosinone's Serie B safety. Sampdoria have never played outside the top two divisions of Italian football in their 79-year history. Brescia have also been handed a four-point penalty for the 2025-26 season. Brescia most recently played in Serie A in 2019-20 and are owned by former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino, who, alongside his son and board member Edoardo, have been handed a sixth-month ban. Following the announcement of the investigation, Brescia released a statement reading: 'Brescia announces that it will appeal to any sporting and non-sporting body to protect its position, believing that it has correctly complied with the federal deadlines.' (Image)
