MILAN, Italy, 19 July 2006 — Juventus is appealing its demotion to Serie B and loss of its last two Serie A titles in Italy’s match-fixing scandal.
Juventus filed an appeal late Monday, arguing that the sanctions were excessive, club spokesman Roberto Patriarca said yesterday.
Lazio, Fiorentina and Milan also confirmed yesterday they will appeal their punishments. The appeals hearing will begin Saturday, the Italian soccer federation said.
An Italian sports tribunal on Friday relegated Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina to the second division. AC Milan escaped demotion but was given a 15-point penalty and banned from European play in the upcoming season. Juventus was handed a 30-point penalty, Fiorentina 12 points and Lazio seven.
The sports tribunal also sanctioned 19 former officials and referees for influencing the outcome of matches.
Meanwhile, prosecutor Stefano Palazzi will resubmit his original recommendation for tougher sentencing, the soccer federation confirmed. Palazzi wants Juventus demoted to Serie C; AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio demoted to Serie B with larger points reductions — three for AC Milan, and 15 each for Lazio and Fiorentina.
Prosecutors in Naples, Rome, Parma and Turin are conducting separate criminal probes into sports fraud, illegal betting and false bookkeeping — but any indictments could take months.
Fans have been protesting against the punishments. Hundreds of Fiorentina supporters blocked 60 trains carrying 24,000 passengers on Monday, prompting the club to ask fans to behave.
“The truth will be acknowledged soon,” Fiorentina said in a statement on its Web site. Milan fans announced a demonstration Thursday in front of Palazzo Marino, the Milan city council building, to express “great bitterness and confusion on the sentence that has been meted out in an excessive manner.”
A fan hung a banner near the Palace of Justice in Milan on Tuesday reading: “Borrelli executioner: Get your hands off Milan,” a reference to lead federation investigator Francesco Saverio Borrelli.
Hundreds of Lazio fans gathered outside a Rome hotel where judges read the verdicts Friday, defending their club and jostling a club lawyer as he left.
Man. United Interested in at Least One Juventus Player
Manchester United is interested in signing at least one player from relegated Italian club Juventus.
United hasn’t signed any players this offseason, and manager Alex Ferguson said he had been waiting on the outcome of the Italian case before making any moves in the transfer market.
“We’re working on several things and talking to several clubs,” Ferguson told the Manchester United Web site yesterday. “We have made several inquiries for several players but we have held certain things back because of the Juventus situation.
“I think everybody will be looking at all the Juventus players. (Patrick) Vieira, Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram and Emerson are the ones that people will be focusing on.
“Now we know where we’re going in terms of making inquiries and maybe definite offers for one or two players.”
Manchester United is currently on a preseason tour in South Africa.
Ribery to Stay On at Marseille
In Marseille, France, France winger Franck Ribery will stay at Marseille for next season.
Club president Pape Diouf said yesterday that coach Albert Emon is expecting Ribery for training July 29.
“Marseille is in a phase of progression and we are counting on him to be more ambitious. Whatever the offers are, he won’t leave,” Diouf told the Associated Press.
The 23-year-old Ribery made his France debut in May against Mexico and was an integral part of the team that reached the July 9 World Cup final. Lyon is among clubs reportedly interested in recruiting him. He has played with Marseille since 2005 and is contracted for another five years.
