A Serie C side Pro Piacenza was thrashed 20-0 by Cuneo on Sunday after being forced to field seven teenagers because of fear they would be kicked out the league. 

Pro Piacenza, who were thrashed 20-0 by Cuneo and were 16-0 down at half-time, have forfeited three matches already this season.

They had to field a minimum of seven players or they would have been expelled from Serie C.

All the players were aged between 16 and 19 with captain Nicola Cirigliano listed as the coach.

Pro Piacenza are in serious financial trouble and have lost all their players but Cuneo did not show any mercy.

Cuneo had only scored 18 goals in 24 matches before the game while Pro Piacenza have already been deducted eight points this campaign.

Edoardo Defendi scored five for the hosts while Hicham Kanis scored a double hat-trick.

Michele Emmausso and Francesco De Stefano also padded out their goal tallies with a hat-trick each.

Sunday’s defeat was branded a ‘farce’ by local newspaper Sport Piacenza, who stopped their live coverage at half-time with the score at 16-0.