Serie B playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana suspended due to fireworks, seats thrown on pitch
Serie B playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana suspended due to fireworks, seats thrown on pitch
Firefighters tend to a flare thrown onto the pitch during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B, which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
A seat is thrown by the Salernitana fans during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
A firefighter tends to a flare thrown onto the pitch during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B, which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
A smoke bomb is thrown onto the pitch during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B, which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
Firefighters tend to a flare thrown onto the pitch during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B, which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
Firefighters tend to a flare thrown onto the pitch during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B, which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
A seat is thrown by the Salernitana fans during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
A seat is thrown by the Salernitana fans during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
A firefighter tends to a flare thrown onto the pitch during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B, which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
A firefighter tends to a flare thrown onto the pitch during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B, which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
A smoke bomb is thrown onto the pitch during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B, which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
A smoke bomb is thrown onto the pitch during a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B, which caused the suspension of the match, at the at the Arechi Stadium in Salerno, southern Italy, Sunday, July 22, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
ROME (AP) — Fireworks and seats thrown onto the pitch prompted a playoff between Sampdoria and Salernitana to stay in Serie B to be suspended midway through the second half.
The incidents involving Salernitana fans occurred after Sampdoria had taken a 2-0 lead Sunday in Salerno, putting it ahead 4-0 on aggregate.
The match will now likely be awarded as a 3-0 victory to Sampdoria according to league disciplinary measures — meaning Sampdoria should remain in Serie B while Salernitana will likely be relegated to Serie C.
Sampdoria has never been relegated to Serie C in its 79-year history and earlier this season brought back some players from its golden years in the 1990s to manage the squad out of crisis.
Salernitana was in Serie A in 2023-24.
Salernitana and Sampdoria finished 16th and 17th, respectively, in the Serie B standings this season.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer