Italian third-division side Foggia have threatened to pull out of the league after an angry confrontation with their fans upon returning home from a 3-0 defeat at local rivals Andria on Saturday.
A group of between 100 and 150 hooligans were reported to have awaited the team as they arrived back in the Apulian city, having already insulted them on the field in Andria.
Aggressione choc dei tifosi alla squadra del Foggia, la procura apre un'inchiesta - VIDEO - https://t.co/o1UN7ADbQ3 pic.twitter.com/OxrRoKiTMn
- Agenzia ANSA (@Agenzia_Ansa) March 6, 2016
As the bus doors were opened, several of the hooligans are said to have entered the bus and started lashing out at the players, some using bats.
The team were driven away and spent the night at a secret location out of fear of reprisals, and the club's owners say they are contemplating calling it a day completely.
"Foggia Calcio, represented by president Lucio Fares, partners Franco and Fedele Sannela, Massimo Curci, Carla Di Corcia and Luca Leccesse, firmly condemn the brutal attack on the team yesterday in the square alongside the Stadio Pino Zaccheria by so-called fans who have absolutely no place in football," a club statement read.
"While such an expression of disappointment on the part of the fans could be expected after a negative result, never ever could such violence be imagined. This is not the sport and football that Franco and Fedele Sannella and all of the partners want to be involved in.
"If all of their efforts and sacrifices lead to a situation like this, then the whole ownership firmly intends to review its own involvement in Foggia Calcio and is taking into serious consideration the idea of taking a step back."
Five people, including four police officers who were called to contain the fans, were injured in the attacks.
The other person injured is reported to be one of Foggia's players. An investigation has been opened by the police.
The club, officially known as A.C.D. Foggia Calcio, was formed in 2012 after the original Foggia club, a Serie A side as recently as the early 1990s, was declared bankrupt.