Food poisoning throws Salernitana’s relegation fight into turmoil

 

Salernitana’s attempt to stay in Serie B has been thrown into disarray after a sudden outbreak of food poisoning affected a large portion of their squad and coaching staff. The illness struck during the return journey from their first-leg relegation playoff against Sampdoria, which they lost 2-0. On the flight back to Salerno from Genoa, 21 individuals including players and technical staff reportedly became violently ill. Several of them were taken to the hospital immediately after landing due to the severity of their symptoms. The outbreak has created chaos at a critical time in Salernitana’s season. The second leg of the relegation playoff is scheduled for Friday, and the club currently trails by two goals. However, with most of their team unable to even show up at the training ground, the match preparations have been completely derailed. The team’s CEO, Maurizio Milan, stated that the situation threatens the integrity of the club’s final efforts to avoid dropping down to Serie C, Italy’s third division. Following the crisis, Salernitana submitted a formal request to Serie B authorities asking for the second leg to be postponed. While they have received general signals of openness from league officials, no final decision has been made. In the meantime, the team’s medical staff and local authorities are working to stabilize the affected individuals and investigate the source of the food poisoning.

The implications of this food poisoning crisis go beyond one playoff match. Salernitana, who were relegated from Serie A just last season, now face the possibility of back-to-back relegations a catastrophic outcome both financially and competitively. A loss to Sampdoria in the second leg would see them plunge further down the Italian football ladder. Given the current health status of many players and staff, the club argues that competing on Friday would not only be unfair but potentially dangerous. Club CEO Maurizio Milan expressed his shock at the incident, warning that such an unexpected and serious disruption could jeopardize the fairness of the season’s final moments. He also confirmed that Salernitana has called for an immediate investigation into how such a widespread illness could have occurred. It remains unclear whether the food consumed on the flight or elsewhere during the trip was the source, but the severity of the episode has forced the club to treat the matter with urgency. Serie B officials have acknowledged Salernitana’s situation and signaled a willingness to consider the postponement, though no formal ruling has yet been announced. The clock is ticking fast as the scheduled return leg approaches. If granted, a delay could give Salernitana time to recover key players and properly prepare. If denied, they may be forced to field a depleted squad in one of their most important matches of the season. The outcome of this situation could influence more than just a single game it could determine the club’s entire future.

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