MILAN, Italy, April 16 – Cash-strapped Serie A strugglers Parma, home to Kenya’s midfielder, MacDonald Mariga look certain to be relegated after being hit with a four-point penalty by league chiefs on Thursday.
Parma, now in administration after going bankrupt, were handed a three-point penalty earlier this season for failing to pay the salaries of players and club employees since July.
The club’s players have still to be paid, sparking another points penalty that means Parma now have only 12 points from their five wins and four draws so far after 30 league games.
The sanction comes less than a week after an impressive 1-0 home win over leaders Juventus, and a day after coach Roberto Donadoni complained the club’s roller-coaster season had left its mark on him.
“I’m exhausted,” Donadoni told reporters on Wednesday.
Second-from-bottom Cagliari are now nine points ahead of Parma, with fellow relegation candidates Cesena 10 points ahead of Donadoni’s men but seven behind Atalanta.