Salerno – It was a hectic night at the Salerno-Pontecagnano airport, where several ambulances intervened to assist about fifteen people, including footballers and members of the Salernitana staff, affected by suspected food poisoning.
The team was returning home after the first leg of the playout against Sampdoria, played in Genoa and ending with a 2-0 defeat. The symptoms - nausea, abdominal cramps and general malaise - appeared during the return flight.
According to initial reports, the players and staff had eaten a rice-based packed lunch before leaving. That very food could be the cause of the collective illness, although ongoing health checks will be the ones to establish this with certainty.
Footballers and staff members hospitalized in Salerno and Battipaglia hospitals
The members of the Salernitana were transported to the hospitals of Salerno and Battipaglia, where they underwent medical checks. Their conditions, fortunately, do not cause concern, but the incident immediately triggered an investigation protocol to clarify the dynamics and responsibilities of the incident.
Article published on 16 June 2025 - 10:05
It's strange that these things happen, but I think that nutrition needs to be better controlled. Maybe someone didn't pay attention to what the players ate. I hope that everyone recovers very soon and returns to the field.
Truly a difficult situation, but it is important that we investigate well to avoid it happening again. We must learn from these mistakes for the health of all the athletes involved.