Explained: Why Serie B will only have 19 teams this season

The Italian Football Federation have confirmed Serie B will continue with just 19 teams as opposed to the original 22.

Prior to the start of the season three teams, Avellino, Bari and Cesena, were unable to register for the competition due to financial problems with all three now in Serie D, with the latter two re-emerging via phoenix clubs.

As a result, three relegated teams from last season, Pro Vercelli, Ternana and Novara, as well as two Serie C clubs Catania and Siena had appealed to be instated into Serie B to return the league to its 22-team threshold.

But now the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) have confirmed Serie B will go on with 19 teams, after rejecting the appeals of the five clubs.

Virtus Entella, another side relegated from Serie B last season, intended to appeal with the other five clubs but ultimately didn’t sign the document.

In a statement released on their official website, the FIGC said: “The National Federal Court of the Disciplinary Section chaired by Cesare Mastrocola declared inadmissible the appeals presented by Catania, Novara, Ternana, Pro Vercelli and Siena on the cancellation of the resolutions of the FIGC Extraordinary Commissioner Roberto Fabbricini who set the Serie B format for 19 teams.”

The result comes with Serie B already six rounds in, with teams now set to play 36 fixtures across the season while also having a matchday off at some point.

Due to their hope in winning appeals to join Serie B, Pro Vercelli, Ternana, Novara, Siena and Catania have all played just one Serie C game so far with others managing as many as four – meaning all five now have a lot of catching up to do in their quests for promotion.

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