Brescia insist they are ‘victims of fraud’ in Serie B financial scandal | OneFootball

Brescia insist they are ‘the victims of fraud’ as a hearing into their possible relegation from Serie B is set for May 22, while Salernitana consult their lawyers.

The situation is in chaos, as today the Lega Serie B formally confirmed it was suspending the relegation play-outs pending the results of an investigation.

Cosenza, Cittadella and Sampdoria had been relegated to Serie C, with Salernitana and Frosinone set to play the first leg of their play-out on Monday May 19.

However, Brescia are facing a possible four-point penalty for financial irregularities, which would transform the bottom of the table.

If confirmed, Brescia would be relegated, Frosinone saved, with Salernitana and Sampdoria in the relegation play-out instead.

Why Brescia irregularities took so long to spot

Lega Serie B

It was found there were irregularities with the credit note provided as proof of payment for the staff and player wages in February 2025.

According to news agency ANSA, Brescia President Massimo Cellino insisted his club was the “victims of fraud” in this case and not the guilty party.

They will be able to present their case in a hearing on May 22, so no decision on the play-offs can be made before then.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Covisoc (who check the financial status of all Italian clubs) saw something wrong on February 28 and requested clarification from the Government’s tax agency.

However, they only received a response on May 16, with the paperwork being passed on to the FIGC investigator on May 17.

The company provided a note of credit for circa €1.4m, which Brescia insist was paid.

Sampdoria fans light a smoke-bomb prior to kick-off in the Coppa Italia match between Genoa CFC and UC Sampdoria at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on September 25, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

This isn’t the end of it, because La Gazzetta dello Sport note that if the same company was used by Brescia to earn a credit note for their wages paid in April 2025, then they could face a similar problem there.

Meanwhile, Salernitana are irritated at seeing the first leg of their relegation play-out called off with barely 24 hours to spare.

Sky Sport Italia report that the club has called in its lawyers and could lodge an appeal if they are asked to change the opponent of their play-out from Frosinone to Sampdoria.