In a shocking turn of events, Serie A Femminile club Pomigliano has decided to withdraw “with immediate effect” from the Italian women’s top flight, citing an ongoing battle against “invisible opponents” that has drained their energy and desire to continue.
Pomigliano’s abrupt exit comes after a controversial refereeing decision that awarded a match-winning penalty to their opponents, Sampdoria, which was the final straw for the club. The decision to withdraw was announced on Sunday, just six games into the season.
In a statement released to Tuttosport, the club openly criticized various aspects, including the league’s organization, financial management, and officiating performance.
The statement read, “Fighting against every type of opponent makes defence pointless,” and continued, “When fighting against an invisible adversary becomes an unequal struggle which saps your energy and desire to continue.”
The club lamented the challenges they faced in navigating the financial aspects of the league, expressing frustration at the league’s inability to guarantee proper payment management. The lack of clear timelines and methods for financial transactions added to their difficulties.
The statement also took aim at the refereeing decisions, particularly in their recent match against Sampdoria. They accused the officials of showing bias and implementing a one-sided approach throughout the game. The club mentioned excessive strictness towards their players compared to Sampdoria and criticized a series of questionable decisions, including an alleged invented penalty.
Consequently, Pomigliano announced their immediate withdrawal from the championship, leaving Serie A Femminile with several questions about how to proceed, especially considering the odd number of clubs.
Pomigliano occupied the ninth spot in Serie A Femminile, just one point ahead of Napoli, who struggled in their first six league matches. Serie A Femminile transitioned to full professionalism starting from the 2022-23 season, signifying the growing prominence of women’s football in Italy.