Italian trio relegated to Serie B

[abdulw11]

Serie A sides Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina have been demoted to the second division for their involvement in Italy's match-fixing scandal.

Juventus were also stripped of their last two Serie A titles and had 30 points deducted, meaning they are likely to stay down for two seasons.

AC Milan will stay in Serie A but will start the season docked 15 points.
All are barred from playing in Europe - Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina in the Champions League; Lazio the Uefa Cup.

Lazio were penalised seven league points while Fiorentina suffered a 12-point penalty.

Inter, Roma, Chievo and Palermo, who finished third, fifth and seventh and eighth are in line to take the places of the penalised clubs in next season's Champions League.

Subject to appeals, Lecce, Messina, and Treviso will avoid relegation to Serie B and keep their places in the top flight as a result of the verdict.

But all four clubs hit out at the verdict and hinted they would appeal.

They have three days to appeal to the Federal Court, but they may find they will run out of time to rescue their European places regardless of the outcome of any appeal because the deadline for entry is only 11 days away.

The FIGC (Italian football's governing body) must hand its European counterpa
rt Uefa the lists of teams that will be involved in its competitions by 25 July.

Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said: "This verdict is unheard of. We expected a balanced sentence not only in form but in substance, our expectations were different ones.

"We could have expected relegation to the second division but to be also handed a 30-point deduction is almost like relegation to the third division. We will appeal."

A statement on Fiorentina's official site called the decision "profoundly unjust".
It added: "Fiorentina wishes to reiterate the absolute correctness of the club and of their own executives.

"Fiorentina will fight with every means possible so that the truth of the facts are revealed."

An AC Milan statement said: "AC Milan retains the decision by the CAF of extraordinary injustice.

"We will appeal once the documents of the verdict will be available, with the certainty that the procedure will be radically modified by appeal."

Lazio president Claudio Lotito, who was banned for three years for his part in the scandal, was fuming following the verdict.

"I think this sentence is provisional as it's based on a theorem which is completely ridiculous," he said.

"I will not make any decisions until a final sentence is given."

Individuals directly involved with the scandal were also penalised.

Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi and ex-chief executive Antonio Giraudo were suspended from football for the maximum five years, with a recommendation to the FIGC to make it for life.

AC Milan vice-resident Adriano Galliani was suspended for one year.

Moggi reacted by saying: "I'm not saddened for myself but for the teams involved and for their fans."

The tribunal in Rome investigated charges that the clubs, their management, football officials and referees tried to influence the outcome of matches by interfering with the appointment of officials.

In May, transcripts were published of telephone conversations between Moggi and Italian Football Association officials, discussing refereeing appointments in the 2004-05 season.

FIGC prosecutor Stefano Palazzi also charged 26 individuals for sporting fraud and violating fairness and probity.

All four clubs implicated denied the accusations.

Thirteen of Italy's World Cup-winning squad play for the clubs involved, with five at Juventus, who also number Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram, David Trezeguet, Pavel Nedved and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their ranks.

Many of them are expected to seek transfers to other leading clubs in Italy or Europe to limit the damage to their careers.

Source: BBC

[abdulw11]

Juventus
Relegated to Serie B
30-point deduction for next season
Stripped of 2005 and 2006 titles
Out of 2006-07 Champions League
Five-year ban for ex-general manager Luciano Moggi
Five-year ban for ex-chief executive Antonio Giraudo

---

AC Milan:
Deducted 15 points next season
Out of 2006-07 Champions League
One-year ban for vice-president Adriano Galliani
Club official Leonardo Meani banned for three years and six months

---

Fiorentina:
Relegated to Serie B
12-point deduction next season
Out of 2006-07 Champions League
President Andrea Della Valle banned for three years and six months
Four-year ban for honourary president Diego Della Valle

---

Lazio:
Relegated to Serie B
Out of 2006-07 Uefa Cup
7-point deduction next season
Three-year ban for president Claudio Lotito

[Mr-Cricket]

Now watch as the Vultures circle in the lead up to the 2006/07 Season.

If United can't pick up a good midfielder, or three, now, they never will.

Get a wriggle on, Fergie.

[abdulw11]

Originally Posted by Mr-Cricket
Now watch as the Vultures circle in the lead up to the 2006/07 Season.

If United can't pick up a good midfielder, or three, now, they never will.

Get a wriggle on, Fergie.

Ferguson should get a move on, he still ain't signed anyone. Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, our main rivals, have already got a player or two.

Hope Man Utd can get Gatusso though, an ideal Roy Keane replacement.

[Hatebreed]

this blows, Chelsea getting Cannavaro and Arseanal Buffon.. Fergie needs to make a move quickly!

[AsifTheManRahman]

wait...so the players don't have to play until the end of their contract if their teams get relegated?

[Sorry]

seems like manu fans are plotting another italian job.

[Rabz]

nice gift for the italian football fans right after their world cup victory...

[abdulw11]

Originally Posted by AsifTheManRahman
wait...so the players don't have to play until the end of their contract if their teams get relegated?

Its still the same when you get relegated. They have to honour their contract unless another club buys them. In the case of these teams, the big name stars like Thuram, Buffon, Cannavaro etc are less likely to want to play in the lower leagues so the clubs are more likely to sell. That is why teams like Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona are looking to pick up some nice deals.

[abdulw11]

Originally Posted by Hatebreed
this blows, Chelsea getting Cannavaro and Arseanal Buffon.. Fergie needs to make a move quickly!

Where did you hear that? I hope its not true. There's no news about it on BBC so I guess theres still hope.

[Rabz]

clubs receive a huge amount of money from playing in champions league and uefa cup's.. also playing in Serie B would not give them too much money either. as a result, this teams WILL NOT be able to afford such big stars paying them thousands of dollars every week.
as a result, clubs like Juventus, Fiorentina would be forced to sell out their big names in order just to survive..or else thier big bank balance would start to dry up.

[abdulw11]

Originally Posted by Sydney
clubs receive a huge amount of money from playing in champions league and uefa cup's.. also playing in Serie B would not give them too much money either. as a result, this teams WILL NOT be able to afford such big stars paying them thousands of dollars every week.
as a result, clubs like Juventus, Fiorentina would be forced to sell out their big names in order just to survive..or else thier big bank balance would start to dry up.

Also, because of less exposure, sponsors pull out of their deals or offer less money.

[abdulw11]

Chelsea
Alessandro Nesta (Milan), Fabio Cannavaro, Pavel Nedved, Gianluca Zambrotta (all Juve)
Manchester United
Patrick Vieira, Pavel Nedved (both Juve), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Luca Toni (Fiorentina)
Liverpool
Mauro Camoranesi, David Trezeguet (both Juve)
Arsenal
Gianluca Buffon, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, David Trezeguet (all Juve), Filippo Inzaghi (Milan)
Tottenham
Lilian Thuram (Juve), Filippo Inzaghi (Milan)

How great would it be to watch all these stars ply their trade in the Premiership? Too bad they can't all play for Man U.

[Hatebreed]

Originally Posted by abdulw11
Where did you hear that? I hope its not true. There's no news about it on BBC so I guess theres still hope.

I read it on the news and I seriously doubt they're coming to Man Utd... are we trying to get Patrick Viera ?!

[Mr-Cricket]

Originally Posted by AsifTheManRahman
wait...so the players don't have to play until the end of their contract if their teams get relegated?

Financial matters aside, many players have a get out clause in their contracts in case of Relegation.

[abdulw11]

Feel bad for Juventus, they're the only ones left, out of the four, in Serie B. Lazio and Fiorentia are back in Serie A, with points deducted. And AC Milan have had their points deduction reduced and are able to play in Champions League qualifyng rounds.

[Xavier]

Milan were allowed today by uefa to play in next CL. They said that they thought Milan had cheated but they couldn't reject the team as they do not have a specific rule for that. Simply ridiculous!

[reverse_swing]

Originally Posted by Xavier
Milan were allowed today by uefa to play in next CL. They said that they thought Milan had cheated but they couldn't reject the team as they do not have a specific rule for that. Simply ridiculous!

typical Roma supporter

[abdulw11]

Originally Posted by Xavier
Milan were allowed today by uefa to play in next CL. They said that they thought Milan had cheated but they couldn't reject the team as they do not have a specific rule for that. Simply ridiculous!

I agree with you man. Its one of the lamest excuses ever. How can you not have a rule against cheating in professional sports?

[Xavier]

Originally Posted by reverse_swing
typical Roma supporter

proudly one!

(btw you don't even know what I think about Juventus and Lazio... )