Italian club Chievo Verona will cease to exist from the 2021/22 season, after failing to attract new investment following their relegation to Serie D.
The club was penalized for financial irregularities and sent to the fourth division of Italian football to work its way back to the top flight.
However, they have not been able to attract a buyer to revive the club ahead of the new season, and after being given a deadline on August 24 to register for the football league, they will not be allowed to compete this year.
Club legend Sergio Pellissier tried with a group of investors to buy the club and reintroduce them into Serie D this season, but he failed to attract the necessary funding – which means that Chievo Verona will cease to exist.
The forward wrote an emotional letter to fans, acknowledging that it was “one of the saddest days of his life”, while waving goodbye to “the most important club” in his career.
“Unfortunately, the story of this club that gave me so much end today,” Pellissier wrote on Instagram. “It’s one of the saddest days of my life. I tried with all my might, and I really hoped to be able to start over with a new club and continue this amazing story, it would have been amazing. Unfortunately, I could not get it done.
“I thought there were more people who were ready to strengthen and protect football in this city and this region, but that was not the case.
Pellissier could not save the club / Paolo Rattini / Getty Images
“We tried. I’m just sorry we had so little time during a complicated period to find sponsors. So goodbye my beloved Chievo, you will always be the most important club in my life.”
Chievo, also known as The Flying Donkeys, defied logic and criticism by surviving in Serie A for many years, even finishing as high as five in 2002. They were relegated from the top flight in 2019, and the club has been financially unable to recover from the money that has been spent and lost over the years.
