MILAN, 15 May 2006 — Juventus won their 29th Italian League title with a 2-0 final day victory over Reggina yesterday, assuring the club of a second successive `scudetto’.
Fabio Capello’s side finished the season three points ahead of second-placed AC Milan who won 2-1 at home to AS Roma.
Fiorentina’s 2-0 win over Chievo assured the Florence club of fourth place and a spot in the qualifying round of next season’s Champions League along with third-placed Inter Milan.
Juve and Milan will go straight into the group stage of the Champions League — unless ongoing match-fixing investigations result in a change to the final league table.
Champions Juve are facing a series of investigations into allegations of match-fixing and, if found guilty, could be stripped of their last two titles and demoted to Serie B.
Capello said he was proud of his team’s achievement and urged people to wait before making judgments on the various investigations into the game.
“For two years I have worked with this team, for two years the players have tried to do their best. We have been on top for 76 games and we have our heads held high and deserve this title. We are proud,” Capello said before turning to the scandal.
“We have to wait, it is right to wait before making all the judgments,” said the Juventus coach.
The scandal which has rocked Italian football has focused on telephone intercepts from last season featuring discussions about refereeing appointments between Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi and football federation officials.
Moggi appeared live on television shortly after the game to announce he was resigning from his position with the club.
Fans made their feelings on the affair known on Sunday with sarcastic slogans and attacks on Juventus and the federation displayed on banners at stadiums across Italy.
“Juve are magic — watch them disappear from Serie A,” read one banner raised by Inter Milan fans watching their side’s 2-2 draw at Cagliari.
Just before kick-off, Milan owner and outgoing Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called for his club, who have finished second to Juve in the last two seasons, to be awarded the two titles.
A 23rd minute goal from French forward David Trezeguet put Juventus on their way and Alessandro del Piero made sure of the win in injury time.
Milan’s only hope of winning the title depended on Juve losing but Carlo Ancelotti’s side at least ended the season with a win.
Brazilian Kaka put Milan ahead from the penalty spot in the fifth minute before Roma drew level with a header from French defender Philippe Mexes in the 33rd minute.
Brazilian substitute Marcio Amoroso gave Milan the win from the penalty spot after Cesare Bovo had pulled down Alberto Gilardino. Bovo was sent off for the foul.
All three relegation spots had already been decided before the final day with Treviso, Lecce and Messina heading into Serie B.
Roma, Lazio and Chievo will be Italy’s representatives in the UEFA Cup next season.
Saudi Arabia Beat Fellow World Cup Hopefuls Togo
In Sittard, Netherlands, a late goal from Malek Al-Hawsawi earned Saudi Arabia a 1-0 win against fellow World Cup finalists Togo in a friendly international yesterday.
Al-Hawsawi pounced on a terrific through-ball from Mohammed Ameen Haidar five minutes from time before sliding the ball home.
Saudi Arabia, who will play in their fourth successive World Cup in Germany from starting from their opening match against Tunisia in Munich on June 14, also face Spain and Ukraine in Group H.
Debutants Togo, who will be the first team to arrive in Germany today, are in Group G with France, Switzerland and South Korea.
