Italian actress Sophia Loren joked she would strip if favourite club Napoli won promotion, yet it was the players who were left in their underwear on Sunday.

Genoa and Napoli drew 0-0 on the final day of Serie B to both clinch promotion back to the top flight after Piacenza could only draw 1-1 with Triestina. Fans ran onto the pitch in Genoa to celebrate when Piacenza’s result was confirmed, and promptly started taking off the players’ shirts and shorts to keep as mementos.

However, the Italian tradition of stripping your heroes backfired when the referee said the final minute of stoppage time had to be played. Once the fans were cleared from the pitch, several players were wandering around in their underpants.

A frantic Genoa kitman charged down the tunnel to find some spare kits which were swiftly given to the players before the referee blew the definitive final whistle.

Now it is 72-year-old Loren’s turn to bare all.

Mark Meadows, Milan