In 2008–09, Mazara returned, expecting to win the league, and established themselves in the top positions of the league. However, on January 2009, the club unwillingly gained national news coverage due to a key home game against first-placed Villabate. Mazara striker Francesco Erbini scored a goal in the first minutes of the match, but the referee disallowed the goal and restarted the game as Mazara's players were celebrating, thus allowing Villabate to score a goal with no significant opposition on the pitch. The referee sent off three Mazara footballers in succession due to heavy protests and then abandoned the pitch minutes later. The Sicilian Football Federation then announced that the match was to be replayed on 10 March; Mazara won the game 2–0 and established themselves in first place. On 22 March, after a 4–0 home win against Marsala in a local derby, Mazara mathematically ensured first place in the league table. They had a six-point advantage over Villabate and only one remaining match to be played, marking their return to the Serie D after nine years.