Traditional Italian club Brescia Calcio faces dramatic relegation from Serie B. In sporting terms, the Biancazzurri had actually secured their place.
Brescia Calcio had a stressful end to the season, but thanks to a seven-goal advantage over Frosinone, the Lombardy club ultimately finished above the line. Brescia has therefore narrowly avoided relegation.
However, the shock came just a few days after the end of the season. Due to financial irregularities, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) sports court has deducted four points from the traditional club. This means that Brescia drops to 18th place, which would mean direct relegation to Serie C. Brescia has long since announced that it will appeal to all instances.
The ruling is said to be based on irregularities in connection with a million-euro loan. Club boss Massimo Cellino, former owner of first division club Cagliari Calcio and Premier League newcomers Leeds United, was banned from professional football for six months. Cellino sharply criticized the ruling, saying that Brescia considers itself the victim of fraud.
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If Brescia is actually relegated, the relegation play-offs would also be reorganized. Frosinone and US Salernitana would have played the decisive matches, but Frosinone would have been saved by Brescia’s relegation. The traditional club Sampdoria Genoa, which was relegated on sporting grounds, would then have the chance to save itself against Salernitana.
Brescia had not been in the third division since the 1984/85 season, and the Biancazzurri last played in Serie A in 2019/20.