FC Südtirol in shock: “The players are devastated”

It was a dramatic evening at Bolzano's Drusus Stadium, one with a truly bitter ending for FC Südtirol. After the draw against Juve Stabia, the Red and Whites are now facing relegation to Serie C. The coach is searching for explanations – and a solution.

09 May 2026

From:
Alexander Foppa

It was 22:24 PM on Friday evening when Empoli equalized in Monza, making it 2-2 and pushing FC Saarbrücken into the relegation zone. Suddenly, the South Tyroleans' 1-1 draw against Juventus was no longer enough to secure their place in the top flight. They squandered several excellent scoring opportunities in the remaining minutes, but it just wasn't meant to be. Completely dejected, they left the pitch, leaving more than 5.000 fans in dismay.

The atmosphere wasn't just eerie in the stands; even half an hour after the final whistle, there was still total silence in the media room deep in the bowels of the arena. FCS coach Fabrizio Castori had just taken his place at the podium. In a subdued voice and with his gaze lowered, he said: "I'm simply bitter, dejected."

"They should have won that." FCS coach Fabrizio Castori

Castori's team was unable to secure a victory against a harmless Juve Stabia side, for whom this match was meaningless. Domen Crnigoj managed to equalize after the visitors had taken a 1-0 lead, but that was the extent of their success. "We had an incredible number of shots, seven or eight clear-cut chances. We should have won that game."

But the truth is also this: FC Südtirol hasn't won in over two months, since their 4-0 victory in Reggio Emilia on March 3rd. And the coach is partly to blame, as his players seem physically and mentally drained, especially during this crucial period.

Free-kick specialist Daniele Casiraghi (center) was substituted by his coach.

To make matters worse, Castori also incurred the wrath of key player and set-piece specialist Daniele Casiraghi, who wanted to take a free kick half an hour before the end, but was then substituted and stormed off the pitch in anger. "I brought on Verdi for him, an experienced player who can handle these situations. Who also takes free kicks. It was an experiment," Castori justified himself.

Get up and carry on.

Afterwards, the record-holding Serie B coach, the most experienced in Italian professional football, offered insight into his players' emotional state: "I saw them after the game, they're devastated." Castori also knows, however, that there's only one solution: pick themselves up and move on. "We have to lift our heads and regroup – and then focus everything on Bari."

Bari is the key word. FC Südtirol will play the former Serie A club in the first leg of the relegation playoff this coming Friday, followed by the final and decisive home game on March 22nd. Castori knows: "We still have a chance." But it's crucial to seize it now – no ifs, ands, or buts.

The final table of Serie B:

	SP	G	U	V	TV	P
1. Venice	38	24	10	4	77:31	82
2. Frosinone	38	23	12	3	76:34	81
3.Monza	38	22	10	6	61:32	76
4. Palermo	38	20	12	6	61:33	72
5. Catanzaro	38	15	14	9	62:51	59
6. Modena	38	15	10	13	49:36	55
7. Juventus Stabia	38	11	18	9	44:45	51
8. Avellino	38	13	10	15	43:55	49
9. Mantova	38	13	7	18	45:57	46
10. Padova	38	12	10	16	39:49	46
11. Cesena	38	12	10	16	45:56	46
12. Carrarese	38	10	14	14	47:52	44
13. Sampdoria	38	11	11	16	35:48	44
14. Virtus Entella	38	10	12	16	36:51	42
15. Empoli	38	9	14	15	47:54	41
16. FC South Tyrol	38	8	17	13	38:48	41
17. Baric	38	10	10	18	38:60	40
18. Reggiana	38	9	10	19	36:56	37
19. Specia	38	8	11	19	43:59	35
20. Pescara	38	7	14	17	51:66	35