Pro Piacenza: Italian FA chief Gabriele Gravina laments an 'insult to the sport' after Serie C side lose 20-0

FIGC president Gabriele Gravina was angered by the 'farce' that ensued in Serie C on Sunday

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Associated Press17 February 2019

A third-tier Italian team had a day to forget when they lost 20-0 after being able to field only seven players, all of them teenagers.

Pro Piacenza, who have financial problems, had already forfeited three matches and not playing a fourth on Sunday would have seen them thrown out of Serie C.

"What happened at Cuneo with Pro Piacenza is an insult to the sport and its founding principles," Italian football federation president Gabriele Gravina said.

The team turned up at Cuneo with just seven players, the minimum number required to start the match.

They were all aged between 16 and 19 with captain Nicola Cirigliano listed as the coach.

Cuneo led 16-0 at half-time.

"Our responsibility is to protect the fans ... and the credibility of our championships," Gravina said, adding that the game "which we just witnessed, against our will, will be the last farce."