Sampdoria Women will play no part in the 2023/24 Serie A Femminile season, despite having avoided relegation at the end of last season. The Blucerchiate have announced that they are withdrawing their women’s team with immediate effect.
Sampdoria, now under new ownership following the club’s purchase by Andrea Radrizzani, are ceasing to exist in Serie A Femminile despite having only purchased Florentia San Gimignano‘s place at the beginning of the 2021/22 season. Radrizzani arrival had suggested that things might take a dark turn on the women’s side of the club.
Samp’s purchase of Florentia’s place wasn’t entirely well received at the time, particularly not in San Gimignano. There, local mayor Andrea Marrucci wrote to the FIGC protesting the move and the club’s supporters were outraged.
Parma, who were relegated from Serie A as the bottom-placed team in 2022/23, are now expected to retake their place in the top flight following Sampdoria‘s decision to pull out. Parma’s relegation was confirmed on the penultimate matchday of the 2022/23 season as they lost away in Liguria – that result also sealed Samp‘s survival.
Sampdoria pull their women’s team
In a statement released at 22:22 CEST on Wednesday, July 19, Sampdoria announced their decision to remove their women’s team.
“UC Sampdoria announces its withdrawal from professional women’s football,” read the Sampdoria statement.
“Sampdoria will return to investing in women’s football, which will be a cornerstone for future social projects within the city. The club will be present in schools to promote the integration of girls in football with complete inclusion and without prejudice.
“Unfortunately, the economic situation inherited [by the new ownership] and the excessive costs of running a professional women’s team in Serie A do not allow us to continue at this time.
“This is also a decision taken out of respect for Sampdoria‘s creditors and employees who have made a number of sacrifices in recent months and continue to do so in order to ensure the future of the club.”
Total Italian Football understands that, as recently as the same week that Sampdoria pulled the operation of their women’s team, the club had agreements in place to bring players in for the 2023/24 Serie A season.
Will Parma be reinstated into Serie A Femminile?
The likely outcome ahead of the 2023/24 season beginning is that Parma will return to Serie A Femminile, despite being relegated in bottom place in their debut season in the top flight.
The Gialloblu lost away at Samp on the penultimate matchday of the season in a result that secured survival for the Blucerchiate and sent Parma to Serie B, or so it seemed to at the time.
Much like Sampdoria had in 2021/22, Parma purchased their place in Serie A for 2022/23 by buying Empoli‘s sporting rights.
