For a while, T&A San Marino threatened to withdraw from the 2023 Serie A. Last Tuesday, they made it official. The “Italian” champions will not defend their title in 2023.
Next to San Marino, two other clubs have withdrawn, but for other reasons than the Italian champion. Both Titans Castelfranco and Academy Nettuno decided to call it quits at the highest level of baseball in Italy.
But what is the reason for San Marino to pull back? The main reason is the new structure of the Serie A. Last year, there were eight divisions of four teams in the first round. The FIBS (Italian Baseball and Softball Federation) decided to cut the number of leagues in half, so there would be four leagues with eight teams each.
San Marino asked for a meeting with the FIBS, but that never came. The Italian champions pledged to sign up for the next championship, but the federation has declined the invitation. To San Marino, this was the last drop. According to corriereromagna.it, this step was already brewing for a while. The owner/chairman of the club claims he was looking for an opportunity to leave baseball, but until Tuesday, he didn’t have the guts to take that step.
San Marino wasn’t the only club that disagreed with the new format and threatened to leave the Serie A. Also, Parmaclima threatened to pull back, but signed up eventually and will play in the 2023 championship.
It is a bad thing for Italian baseball that the reigning champion steps back. But since this is Italian baseball, don’t be surprised the club will decide to return anyway. But since its players are free to go, the latter will be tough.
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