‘the referee had simply suspended the game, then decided to return to the locker rooms. Several seats were also thrown onto the field, and riot police intervened’

A play-off final in Italy has been abandoned with 20 minutes remaining. Chaos erupted in the Italian Serie B relegation final between Salernitana and Sampdoria.

Sampdoria were already 2-0 up from the first leg, and had taken a 2-0 lead again away from home, thanks to goals on the night from Massimo Coda and Giuseppe Sibilli.

However, the game was suspended shortly after as Salernitana’s fans’ fury spilled over, with flares and chairs thrown onto the pitch. It happened a further two times before the game was finally abandoned.

Despite Sampdoria being 4-0 ahead, the final 20 minutes had to take place, because several players from both sides will be out of contract or have their loans ended on June 30.

However, it was later confirmed that Sampdoria were awarded a 3-0 win, and were therefore saved from relegation.

According to local news outlet Il Mattino: “At the score of 0-2, the match between Salernitana and Sampdoria was suspended around the middle of the second half. In fact, following the visitors’ two-goal lead, the home fans, resigned to the almost certain relegation to Serie C, began throwing smoke bombs and seats onto the field from the Curva Sud Siberiano.

“Initially, the referee had simply suspended the game, then decided to return to the locker rooms. Several seats were also thrown onto the field, and riot police intervened.

“After several minutes, referee Doveri decided to definitively interrupt the match, which thus ends in the 65th minute.”

Images from the game show red and white seats all over the pitch, with fans being held back by security as they attempt to show their anger at the team’s possible relegation to the Italian third tier.

To make the situation even more bizarre, Sampdoria had orifinally been relegated, but Brescia’s financial troubles and subsequent administration saw Sampdoria survive and enter the relegation play off as a result.

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