According to McGinniss, the last match of the season was fixed; he overheard players before the match discussing how Bari, who needed a victory to ensure promotion to Serie A, would be allowed to score three goals and win, with Castel di Sangro allowed one consolation goal from a penalty kick. One player explained to him that Bari had asked for a favor, and even had they not done so, Castel di Sangro was unlikely to win anyway because of the emotional and physical toll consumed by the relegation battle. However, because "it is demanded by "il sistema"" (McGinniss claims that several members of the Castel di Sangro squad told him that the pre-arrangement of results in end-of-season matches that are significant to one of the teams was common in Italian football), the team could not possibly refuse. Bari won the match 3–1, Castel di Sangro's goal coming from a penalty.