We’ve all been on the end of a Sunday league drubbing, but this really takes the piss
Italian third division side Pro Piacenza are in all sorts of trouble. Bottom of Serie C, the side are doomed for relegation to the fourth tier, and are suffering financially too.
The club have failed to play any of their last three matches, and have been deducted eight points as a result. Not wanting to suffer any more sanctions, they were determined to field a team today, even if it was just seven players.
All seven starters were aged between 16 and 19, one of whom acted as player-manager today. Eventually, and eighth player came on, but only after documents were shown, proving his eligibility.
There have been claims that the club has not paid its players since August, leading to many of them ripping up their contracts and refusing to turn out for the team. And fair enough.
All of this led to one of the most humiliating defeats in Italian football history, as Pro (more like amateur!) Piacenza suffered a 20-0 loss.
In fairness to their opponents, Cuneo, they were 16-0 up at half-time, so they did take their foot off the gas, but still.
It was so embarrassing that local newspaper Sport Piacenza, who stopped their live coverage at half-time, branding the fixture a ‘farce’.
This result is the least of the club’s worries, though, as they prepare for a hearing with the Italian Football Federation on March 11.
