Promoted Salernitana allowed to start Serie A season amid search for owner

Rome, July 7, 2021 (AFP) - Salernitana will be allowed to start the season in Serie A Italian football authorities ruled on Thursday, after co-owner Claudio Lotito, who also owns Lazio, put his shares in trust.

Italian Football Federation (FIGC) rules prohibit two clubs under the same ownership playing in the same division.

The FIGC gave the promoted club, based in Salerno 50 km southeast of Naples, until June 26 to find a buyer.

They failed to meet the deadline but placed the shares in an independent trust responsible for finding a buyer within six months.

On Wednesday, the FIGC agreed to that formula, but federation president Gabriele Gravina warned in a statement that the club must "change ownership within six months, otherwise it will be thrown out of Serie A."

"Salernitana officially returns to Serie A," the club responded on Twitter.

Salernitana finished second in Serie B last season to return to the top flight for the first time since the 1998-99 season. That campaign, like their only previous season in Serie A in 1947-48, ended in relegation by one point.