A significant food poisoning outbreak has struck the Salernitana football club, leaving players and staff hospitalized and prompting a request to postpone their crucial Serie B play-out second leg against Sampdoria. The incident occurred after the team's return from Genoa, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Sampdoria in the first leg.

Upon arrival at Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport on Monday, multiple members of the team and staff reported feeling unwell. Ambulances were immediately called to the airport, and a reported 21 individuals, including players and staff, were transported to hospitals in Salerno and Battipaglia for treatment. The club has confirmed that those affected are suffering from serious food poisoning.

Initial reports suggest that the likely cause of the outbreak was contaminated food consumed during their chartered flight back to Campania. Specifically, it is believed that Cantonese rice, part of the packed lunches provided on the flight, may be the source of the poisoning. Salernitana has sent samples of the food for analysis to determine the exact cause and has also notified Genoa police, who have launched an investigation into the matter. Carabinieri and financial guard are also involved in the investigation to determine if further legal action is required.

The club has officially requested the postponement of the second-leg match against Sampdoria, which is scheduled to take place on Friday evening at the Arechi Stadium. Given the number of players affected and the limited time for recovery, Salernitana argues that it would be impossible to field a competitive team. The league authorities are currently considering the request, taking into account the severity of the situation and the potential impact on the integrity of the play-out tie.

Sampdoria had originally planned to offer discounted tickets for the playout match against Salernitana, but cancelled those plans after Genoa fans started buying tickets with fake names mocking them.

The health and well-being of the players and staff are the club's immediate priority. Salernitana is providing full support to those affected, ensuring they receive the best possible medical care. The club is also working closely with the authorities to determine the source of the contamination and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The incident has cast a shadow over the crucial Serie B play-out, with Salernitana fighting to maintain their place in the division. The focus now is on the recovery of the players and staff and awaiting the decision regarding the postponement of the decisive second leg.