An Italian Football Federation disciplinary panel delivered sweeping penalties Friday against four top clubs found guilty of match-fixing, casting a shadow over Italy's World Cup triumph just days earlier. Juventus received the harshest sentence: stripped of their last two league titles and docked 30 points for the coming season, with relegation to Serie B. Fiorentina and Lazio were also sent down, losing 12 and seven points respectively, while AC Milan avoided relegation but was docked 15 points.
All four clubs were barred from European competition. Their punishment reshuffled Serie A standings, allowing Lecce, Messina, and Treviso to keep their top-flight places, and opening Champions League spots for Inter Milan, Roma, Chievo, and Palermo.
The scandal broke in May when published phone transcripts showed Juventus former general manager Luciano Moggi pressuring a senior federation official over referee assignments. Among other officials facing bans of up to five years are Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle, Lazio chief Claudio Lotito, and former federation president Franco Carraro.
All four clubs were expected to appeal, with the federation eager to resolve the matter before UEFA's 25 July deadline for Champions League and UEFA Cup submissions.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in July 2006, in its own words.