What’s Next for Brescia After a Huge Setback?

Brescia are in even bigger trouble than they were before when they faced a points deduction. Earlier in the 2024-2025 season, Brescia were holding their own in Serie B and could have stayed up as well, but received a four-point deduction due to a breach of rules. This happened because the club's former chairman (former Cagliari and Leeds United owner), Massimo Cellino, had paid the wages of the club's players and staff in February using illegal paperwork, which had a lot of irregularities.

Hence, Brescia could not stay up and were initially demoted to Serie C, but news has surfaced stating that Brescia will potentially face expulsion from professional divisions. This happened because the club failed to pay their debt of €3 million. It is really sad to see Brescia facing point deductions and getting demoted to Serie C, but expulsion from the country's professional leagues is the lowest point for the 114-year-old club, which has been home to big names like Roberto Baggio, Luca Toni, Andrea Pirlo, Pep Guardiola & Mario Balotelli.

How did this unfold, latest update and what's next for Brescia?

Brescia owner Massimo Cellino has not been caught up in such a situation for the first time. He was initially the owner of Premier League club Leeds United, and his tacky door strategy of changing management and legal problems put the club under a lot of financial burden. Brescia had until 6th June, 2025, to pay the remaining wages from the last two months; however, the deadline passed and no payment was delivered. The main problem is that Cellino has not even registered the club in time for the Serie C season due to his failure to pay his debts.
Now, the Brescia fans' worst nightmare seems to have come true, as for the first time in their 114-year history, it has been confirmed that the club will not be taking part in any professional competition this year. On 3rd July, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), via an official press release, declared that Brescia has been denied the licence to compete in any professional football tier this season, in a massive setback for the club and their supporters.

The FIGC has cited the club's failure to pay debts of over €1 million owed to the league since January, along with the failure to pay players, coaches, and staff in March and April 2025, among several other reasons, as the reason for Brescia's expulsion from professional football this season.

While this indeed comes as a huge disappointment for the 114-year-old club, there's still a silver lining as Brescia will be allowed to compete in Serie D, the top tier of amateur football in the country, but only if a change of ownership and legal restructuring (a new company name, a new club and brand name) takes place. If they manage to do that, the goal will be to rebuild from scratch and restore the lost glory of this historic club.

Brescia have spent 28 seasons playing in Serie A in their rich 114-year history, and their best place finish was eighth in the league. Although they have not won the Serie A in their history, they are an integral part of Italy's long-serving and rich culture of football.