Serie B chaos and memories of food-poisoning fall-guys

'Real Gs move in silence like lasagne' – Lil Wayne, 2011.
With the transfer window opening, closing and opening again, it might surprise you to learn that the domestic season in Italy, specifically in Serie B, is not yet over. The relegation playoff to decide who falls into the Italian third tier rages on, with Sampdoria – who originally had been automatically relegated following a dismal season – given a late reprieve after Brescia were docked points for financial irregularities. Samp and playoff opponents Salernitana are now slugging it out for survival, which feels a little too accurate in the latter's case now that the southern side have got a serious case of food poisoning after a 2-0 first-leg defeat in Genoa on Sunday. Twenty-one of Salernitana's players and staff have been struck down with illness, a large part requiring hospital treatment upon disembarking from their flight in Salerno. Salernitana have called for an investigation into the 'causes of this widespread and serious episode'.
'We are truly shocked by what happened and by the series of events that risk jeopardising Salernitana's smooth and peaceful approach to the final and crucial minutes of the season,' said club suit Maurizio Milan, putting a smooth and peaceful shine on his side's disastrous first-leg defeat. 'Many players and staff, at the moment, are not even able to show up at the sports centre to resume training.' There is no suggestion of foul play or that it was a dodgy lasagne (no, not Kevin) that was to blame, but it does give us an opportunity to revisit the biggest food-poisoning scandal on English soil in recent years: lasagne-gate.
Tottenham, shock, were the fall-guys on that occasion as almost the entire squad fell ill on the eve of their last game of the 2005-06 Premier League season at West Ham. Spurs' depleted and deteriorating squad would lose 2-1 the following day, bitterly handing Big Cup qualification to arch-rivals Arsenal in perhaps the most famous example of St Totteringham's Day. 'While the gaffer [Martin Jol] was giving his team talk before the game, players were being sick in the toilets,' Jermaine Jenas later wrote. Spurs' players had dined in a private room at the five-star London Marriott West India Quay Hotel and sat down to a buffet of steak, chicken and pasta prepared by the hotel chef on the advice of the club's nutritionist. By 5am many were ill with diarrhoea and vomiting, and club officials asked for the police to be called. However, after the hotel's general manager said no other guests were affected and the kitchens and food preparation areas were given the all-clear, fan forums went into overdrive as to the cause of the food poisoning. 'We had 10 players in bed,' sobbed Jol. 'Then we asked the Premier League to postpone the kick-off for three hours until six o'clock and that wasn't possible.'
Serie B officials have acted with a little more compassion, granting Salernitana a postponement with Friday's second leg now moved to Sunday after medical documents were produced by the club and a criminal complaint filed with prosecutors. Sure, Football Daily might have a soft spot for Sampdoria and obviously cannot confirm or deny that we were preparing sandwiches for a flight out of Genoa airport on Sunday, but we would absolutely hate to see another important Italian match influenced by off-pitch matters. Here's hoping Salernitana's players and staff make a full recovery.
'There was no way to simply buy water. You could go to a beer-only stand but there were no water stands and no extra water stations' – John Celmins is one of a number of fans in Pasadena recounting their grim experiences of water shortages at Sunday's game between PSG and Atlético, which kicked off at midday in brutally sweltering conditions and featured Fifa's trademark directive on banning bottles with any contents taking precedence over the Rose Bowl's usual rules.
Nice contrast regarding football management IQ in yesterday's Football Daily. The Copa Gianni had PSG and Atlético kick off on Sunday at noon under the California sun. Meanwhile, six miles away, the Angel City (AKA Immigrant City) match on Saturday sensibly started at 7pm local time. Much better for the players, the supporters, and the game in general, no?' – Mike Wilner.
Just a thought about the ongoing debate around the Club World Cup and player welfare. How about – borrowing from the format of Ryder Cup Sunday – every player has to play a certain amount of time (updated for each round)? It would be fascinating to watch each manager use their entire squad rather than rely on their first team, and ensure some rest for all' – Nick Hewat.
I'm surprised that 'Hugh Lloris' is a goalkeeper for LAFC (yesterday's News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). I would think he'd be a coach, as he is a proven experienced manager. This means that when LAFC faces the Seattle Sounders in MLS, Lloris and the opposing goalkeeper combine to offer A Bit of Frei and Lloris' – Dan Davis.
Please send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today's winner of our letter o' the day competition is … Dan Davis, who gets some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here.
It's your boy, David Squires, on … the Copa Gianni.
Yes, it's the news you've all been waiting for: Barcelona's credit rating is on the way back, baby. 'The change in trend to 'positive' from 'stable' is supported by FCB's improved financial performance over the last two seasons along with the expectation of further improvement thanks to higher revenues because of the club's return to the Spotify Camp Nou (the stadium), as well as effective cost controls carried by the club and supported by Uefa and La Liga sustainability frameworks,' bugled a statement. You'll never sing that!
The FA has charged former referee David Coote with an alleged 'aggravated breach' over comments he made about Jürgen Klopp that emerged last November and led to his dismissal by the PGMOL.
More from the Club World Cup: Chelsea are up and running after beating LAFC 2-0 in front of 22,137 fans at the 75,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; Boca Juniors and Benfica have drawn 2-2 in a half-decent encounter; and Flamengo have beaten Esperance 2-0.
The WSL will expand from 12 to 14 teams from the 2026‑27 season – subject to FA approval, along with making the second tier fully professional. Next season the WSL2's top two will be promoted and the team in third will have a deciding playoff against the bottom WSL side.
Drogheda United's appeal over their exclusion from Tin Pot by Uefa, due to non-compliance with regulations on multi-club ownership, has been dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The FAI Cup holders are owned by multi-club landlords, Trivela Group, who have a majority stake in Silkeborg, also in next season's Tin Pot and the higher ranked team.
Manchester United chief suit Omar Berrada remains confident the club can win the men's and women's league titles by their 150th anniversary in 2028. 'Can the team win the Premier League title by 2028? Of course. We've just finished 15th and it seems an impossible task. But why not aim for it?' he whooped.
Brighton have signed Italian international film director defender Diego Coppola from Verona.
Plymouth Argyle may have lost Ryan Hardie to new Championship arrivals Wrexham, but they could soon be gaining investment from a US group that is being spearheaded by … Gareth Bale.
And fellow League One outfit Cardiff City have settled on Brian Barry-Murphy as their new head coach. 'He brings enthusiasm, vibrancy and an exciting outlook on what today's football is,' trilled owner Vincent Tan.
The latest edition of our sister email focuses on Sweden's Soft Hooligans. Check it out right here.
Suzanne Wrack explains how the WSL's expansion to 14 teams will reshape the women's football pyramid.
And the Rumour Mill has all the latest goss, including chatter of Real Madrid plotting a move for Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly.
America, eff yeah. Coming again to save the mother [Snip – Football Daily Ed] … oh, get a 3-1 beating by England in May 1976 at the USA USA USA Bicentennial Cup. The tournament, also featuring Italy and Brazil, marked the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, while the European pair took part after failing to reach Euro 1976, and the Team America side featured a host of non-Americans (including Pelé). Here, Trevor Cherry lets fly in front of a sparsely populated crowd in Philadelphia and you can watch highlights of what turned out to be classed as an unofficial encounter right here.

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