Prosecutors are investigating top clubs, referees and officials for suspected match-fixing in the biggest scandal to hit Italy since the 1980s.Two senior officials of Juventus, Italy's most successful club, are among 41 people under formal investigation.Six-times European champions AC Milan as well as Lazio feature in the probe of 19 league games from last season.In Rome, police searched the soccer federation's offices and those of the referees' association.
Italian referee Massimo de Santis will not officiate at the World Cup after being implicated in match-fixing allegations that have rocked Italy.The Italian football federation has also told Fifa it has withdrawn accreditation for assistant referees Alessandro Griselli and Marco Ivaldi.
Among those called to give evidence in Rome on Tuesday are AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, Inter coach Roberto Mancini, Serie A president Adriano Galliani and former referee Pierluigi Collina. The four are not under investigation but are being interviewed as "persons who may have knowledge of events".And magistrates in Naples have launched a related investigation into illegal betting.This probe is concentrating on the possible rigging of 20 games two seasons ago - all but one in Serie A. Among the 41 people under investigation is Juve and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. [/url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4985738.stmBuffon fall under this too? i wonder if it gonna affect his Italy chances. i mean, would Fifa call for him to be personally sanctioned?he's still been named as Italy's first choice in the team (15/05/06) but still.. we don;t know how deep this goes yethmm
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, seventh and eighth, are in line to take the places of the penalised clubs in next season's Champions League.
CLUB PUNISHMENTSJuventusRelegated to Serie B30-point deduction for next seasonStripped of 2005 and 2006 titlesOut of 2006-07 Champions LeagueFive-year ban for ex-general manager Luciano MoggiFive-year ban for ex-chief executive Antonio GiraudoAC Milan:Deducted 15 points next seasonOut of 2006-07 Champions LeagueOne-year ban for vice-president Adriano GallianiClub official Leonardo Meani banned for three years and six monthsFiorentina:Relegated to Serie B12-point deduction next seasonOut of 2006-07 Champions LeaguePresident Andrea Della Valle banned for three years and six monthsFour-year ban for honorary president Diego Della ValleLazio:Relegated to Serie BOut of 2006-07 Uefa Cup7-point deduction next seasonThree-year ban for president Claudio Lotito
Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United are considering a transfer raid on Juventus following the Italian club's relegation from Serie A.The Turin side were demoted as a result of their part in Italy's match-fixing scandal, and it seems certain that many of their top players will leave."We held things back until we knew what the Juve situation was," said Ferguson."Now we know where we're going in terms of making inquiries and maybe definite offers for one or two players." Ferguson said Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram, Emerson and Patrick Vieira were "the ones that people will be focusing on", adding that one or two "could maybe have free transfers if they were going outside of Italy".
