By Marta Elena Casanova
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Index
In Italian football’s Serie B and Serie C, the verdict is not decided only on the pitch. Between point deductions, exclusions and failed admissions, recent seasons have exposed structural weaknesses and a stricter regulatory framework that tells clubs: either you are sustainable, or you don’t register. Among the most recent cases — to name just a few — are Taranto, Turris, Brescia and Triestina, along with new rules that aim to change the game.
Taranto: from dream to annulled results
In March 2025, Taranto, led by president Massimo Giove, was excluded from Serie C due to serious administrative violations: wages and contributions unpaid on time, reported by Co.Vi.So.C. The National Federal Tribunal also imposed a 3-point deduction to be served in the next eligible season, while the Federal Court rejected the appeal, confirming the exclusion. All seasonal results were annulled, with direct impact on standings and fixtures.
Turris: exclusion and inherited penalty
Turris also faced the federation’s hard line: excluded from Serie C last March with a 3-point deduction to be served in the following season. As with Taranto, it all stemmed from Co.Vi.So.C. referrals for administrative violations (payments and obligations). The domino effect impacted the group and the relegation battle of many rivals. In the background, the previous season had already been marked by the resignation of president Antonio Colantonio.
Brescia: deduction, relegation and failed admission
Massimo Cellino’s Brescia received a heavy sanction at the end of May for tax irregularities (IRPEF/INPS and disputed tax credits): 8 points in total, 4 deducted in 2024/25 and 4 applied this season. The penalty affected Serie B standings and the club’s sporting fate, leading not only to relegation but also to exclusion from Serie C 2025/26 for unpaid wages. A devastating blow for a club with 114 years in professional football.
Triestina: new ownership, but 20-point deduction in the season
This is just the latest episode involving lower-league clubs. A few days ago, in September 2025, Triestina once again hit the headlines: the TFN imposed a 13-point penalty (added to the 7 from May), totaling 20 points in 2025/26, for administrative violations reported by Co.Vi.So.C. Meanwhile, on the ownership front, president Ben Rosenzweig resigned and the club announced its takeover by House of Doge (the operational arm of the Dogecoin Foundation), with a new leadership expected soon. A phase of transition in the midst of a sporting storm.
The reasons
Co.Vi.So.C. (Supervisory Commission on Football Clubs) checks payment of salaries and contributions, absence of overdue debts towards FIGC/Leagues/clubs, financial statements, guarantees and liquidity indicators. Reports trigger referrals to the Federal Tribunal (TFN) and, in case of violations, penalties, failed admissions or mid-season exclusions follow. This is what happened with Taranto, Turris and Triestina, all sanctioned for administrative breaches.
The introduction of the Salary Cap
The economic sustainability of Serie C has long been unresolved. Last April, Lega Pro president Matteo Marani spoke of the “sustainability problem in Italian football known for at least twenty years.” In 2023, the total wage bill reached nearly €163 million, an increase of €35 million compared to 2022. Hence the introduction of the Salary Cap, which sets a maximum limit on salaries for players and staff in order to control costs and ensure that clubs operate within sustainable financial limits.
Starting this season, the Zola Reform is also in place, aimed at promoting youth development, focusing on academies, training and sustainability, rewarding clubs that best invest in young talent in an attempt to save the system.
The 2025/26 season has introduced (and reinforced) clear rules for Serie B and Serie C:
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Strict deadlines: by June 6 all wages and contributions must be paid; by the end of June, guarantees and documents for the National License must be submitted. Failure to comply risks exclusion.
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Tighter admission process: standard Lega Pro forms, self-certification of payments, and complete documentation (stadium compliance, guarantees). Missing items = exclusion.
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Replacements and squad completion: if a club withdraws or is not admitted, rigid ranking lists and criteria apply (no infrastructural exceptions; National License still required). Essentially, it has been made clear that unsustainable clubs need not apply, leaving room for reinstatements.
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Public timeline and closer controls: Lega Pro and FIGC have published Official Statements with all steps (registrations, Co.Vi.So.C. reviews, appeals). The approach is more preventive than punitive after the fact.
The regulatory tightening strikes clubs that fail to comply but protects the credibility of the league. For controversial figures such as Cellino (Brescia) or struggling clubs (Taranto, Turris, Triestina), the bar has been raised: either you pay and certify on time, or you stay out. Ultimately, those who suffer are not only club employees at risk of unemployment or demotion, but also the countless fans across Italy, who place their childhood dreams in their team, support them despite everything, but too often end up disappointed by a system still riddled with problems.
By Marta Elena Casanova
