CONI cuts Calciopoli penalties
Friday 27 October, 2006
Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina have had their Calciopoli penalties reduced, but Milan remain with an eight-point handicap.
The Biancocelesti and Bianconeri had the biggest discount, as both have had eight points handed back to them after tonight’s verdict from the CONI Arbitration.
Fiorentina were hoping for a substantial discount on their original 19-point penalty, but it has merely been cut to –15.
Milan’s appeal failed, as their eight-point handicap will stand for the 2006-07 campaign.
The clubs lodged their appeals in front of the commission on October 11 and 12, but a decision was only formally announced this evening.
The original Calciopoli trial had inflicted more severe handicaps on the sides, as Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio were demoted to Serie B with penalties of 30, 12 and seven points respectively. Milan stayed in the top flight with a 15-point penalty.
These verdicts were cut on appeal so that only Juve remained in the Second Division with a 17-point penalty. Fiorentina and Lazio returned to Serie A, starting from –19 and –11, while Milan went back into the Champions League through the preliminary round and began the campaign from –8 points.
This could well be the final act in the Calciopoli trial that has dragged on since the summer, amid wiretapping scandals, match-fixing allegations and claims of pressure put on referees to favour certain sides.
Yet there may be more on the horizon, as clubs still unhappy with their lot could in theory appeal to the TAR tribunal. As it is outside the jurisdiction of the sporting courts, this civil action would infuriate the Federation and might earn new penalties for the sides involved.