Juventus’ lawyer told the Calciopoli trial that the best punishment for the club would be Serie B rather than a drop down to the Third Division.

“Demotion to Serie B with docked points would be a congruous punishment,” Cesare Zaccone claimed in court this evening.


Yesterday prosecutor Stefano Palazzi requested the Bianconeri go down to “a Division lower than Serie B” with a six-point penalty for their part in the match-fixing allegations. He also asked for Lazio and Fiorentina to begin with a 15 point penalty in Serie B, where they’d be joined by Milan on minus three points.


Director general Luciano Moggi is at the centre of the scandal after his telephone conversations were wiretapped, allegedly attempting to influence the referees assigned to their matches.


“You can’t talk about direct responsibility for Juventus, as Moggi has never been a legal representative of the club,” added the lawyer today. “I also believe that Antonio Giraudo should only be considered indirectly responsible for any wrong-doing. The only issue here is the seriousness of the facts, which in my view should be largely re-evaluated.”


The Turin giants are attempting to distance themselves from Moggi, who has already resigned from his post, and rescue the situation as best they can.


“The sanction requested by the prosecutor would devalue the squad by 80 per cent. As the trial continues, 79 per cent of the club’s income is in danger. Juventus do not have a single benefactor behind the side willing to invest money.”


Much has been made in the run-up to the trial of the so-called ‘Moggi system’, but lawyer Zaccone attempted to spread the blame.


“There were at least five different systems going on in football. One was created in Genoa, another in Florence, then in Rome which included leading figures in the Federation and another system working in Milan. All of them were opposed and conflicting. This is all that’s needed to explain why the idea of a Mafia-like total system involving everyone is impossible.”


Lazio President Claudio Lotito and Fiorentina patron Diego Della Valle also spoke at the trial today. Both insisted they were “victims of the system” rather than orchestrators and that they had never requested favours from referees.


Former FIGC President Franco Carraro spoke out this morning. “The accusation of sporting fraud levelled at me is humiliating and vile. I acted in good faith and have never cheated anyone. If the facts are confirmed, then something very serious happened in the 2004-05 season.”

I had not heard that news.

So what big teams will be left in Serie A?

Serie A side Sampdoria have just signed Italian striker Christian Vieri so they could be title contenders this sason in Italy?


Stew
- HEA

It's not definite, but seems they are willing to take that than risk going down to Serie C if they fight too much!

Investigatotrs were asking for Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina to be put down to Serie B too, but supposedly Milan my be OK, the other 2 are worried.

Perhaps Inter will finally win a scudetto!!

Juventus will be lucky to get promoted in one season after losing so many league points to start with.

Assuming most of 1st team will be sold off also within next month.

I think the reason they were given such a massive point deduction of 30pts is to allow some leeway once the appeal goes ahead, will probably reduce it to 15pts or something IMO.

Del Piero seems keen to stay, but others plan on jumping ship right away!

Season long loans may be the order of the day for most, with option for their new clubs to buy if Juve don't go straight back up?

Crisie del Italia may scream the tally tabloids.

Wonder how many World Cup winners will now be playing their football away from Italy this coming season?

Appeal being heard later today.

Rumour is some Italian clubs affected could have their punishment halfed.

I think Juve's relegation will stand, but will probably reduce the points deducted to almost half of the 30pts.

Lazio and Fiorentina were a bit harshly dealt with being relegated, they will probably be reinstated to Serie A, but will have the points deductions increased a bit.

Milan will likely have the points deducted half, similar to Juve, and will likely get to feature in European competition.

Believe the announcement is at 7pm, as they must submit clubs for Europe next season by midnight tonight.

Spot on, what can I say!

Juve accept Serie C?

French central defender Jean Alain Boumsong has joined Juventus from Newcastle for £3.3m.
The 26-year-old, who was part of the France 2006 World Cup squad, has agreed to a four-year deal with the club.

Boumsong, who had also been linked with Marseille and Lens, moved from Rangers to Newcastle in January 2005, signing a five-and-a-half-year deal.


Now THAT is an Italian scandal !

Too think the Scottish media had Boumsong down as a world class defender.

I think the delight of Magpies fans at his leaving, even for a £5m or so loss shows he is nothing of the sort!

Rangers certainly won a watch when the dim Souness shelled out that huge sum on him!

"Italian National Team Face Ban if Juve Appeal Again"

Fifa said Italy could be thrown out of the qualifying campaign for Euro 2008 if Juventus continue to fight relegation to Serie B for match-fixing.
Juve were relegated and docked 17 points for trying to exert influence over referees and are now trying to take their appeal to a civil court.

That would be against Fifa's rules and could lead to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) being suspended.

That could mean clubs and the national team being excluded from competitions.