Rome, Jan. 6 (LaPresse) – Seven minutes on the court before conceding a forfeit victory to the opponents. It was a surreal scene on the neutral court in Samokov, Bulgaria, as the Trapani Sharks abandoned the playing field in the Champions League play-in against Hapoel Holon, a match that effectively ended before it had even begun. After the first few minutes, Rossato and Cappelletti left the court due to 'injury,' followed by Pugliatti. On the court remained Patti and Martinelli, junior players, who played two against five: Patti then committed the fifth foul, and according to the rules, if a team is left with only one player, it is declared the loser. The game ended 36-5.
Trapani appeared on the court with only five players (Cappelletti, Rossato, Pugliatti, Patti, and Martinelli) and only coach Alex Latini and sporting director Valeriano D’Orta on the bench. After failing to appear for the match against Virtus Bologna scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 4, Trapani had been fined €50,000, and in recent months the Federal Court had imposed a total of 8 penalty points on the club due to administrative irregularities in the payment of withholdings and contributions, strongly contested by President Valerio Antonini, who is banned until 2027.
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