Juve, Fiorentina and Lazio relegated

Italy's most successful soccer club Juventus were relegated to Serie B yesterday along with ex-champions Fiorentina and Lazio after a sports tribunal found the clubs guilty of offences in a match-fixing trial.

Bringing to a head the biggest scandal in European soccer for decades, the tribunal also ruled that Milan, although they will stay in Serie A, would have their points from last season reduced by 44 points - ruling them out of next season's Champions League.

Juventus were stripped of their last two title wins - from 2006 and 2005.

All four clubs will start next season with points penalties with Juventus forced to begin their Serie B campaign with minus 30 points - almost ensuring they will spend at least two seasons in Serie B.

Milan will start their Serie A campaign next season with minus 15 points. In Serie B, Fiorentina begin on minus 12 and Lazio on minus seven.

The clubs have the opportunity to appeal the decision and all said they were ready to fight.

Angry Juventus fans gathered in front of the club's headquarters in Turin while Fiorentina fans protested in Florence and Lazio supporters made their feelings known outside the Rome hotel where the verdict was announced.

As well as the clubs, the tribunal barred a number of club officials from the game for varying lengths.

Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi, who was at the centre of the scandal, was banned from the game for five years and ex-Federation president Franco Carraro for four and a half years.

Officials from some of the Italian clubs named in the scandal have said they will turn to Italy's civil courts, raising the prospect of a messy legal battle.

Should the verdicts be upheld after appeal then Inter and Roma will go straight into the Champions League group stage next season with Palermo and Chievo Verona in the qualifying round.

No decision has been made on which teams will fill the gaps in Serie A although relegated teams Lecce, Messina and Treviso will expect to be returned to the top flight.

Tribunal verdicts...

Juventus: Relegated to Serie B and start next season with a penalty of 30 points. Juventus have also been stripped of the league championship titles won in the last two seasons.

Milan: Remain in the Serie A but start next season with a penalty of 15 points. They have also had their points total for last season reduced by 44, disqualifying them from the Champions League.

Lazio: Relegated to Serie B and must start next season with a penalty of seven points.

Fiorentina: Relegated to Serie B and must start next season with a penalty of 12 points.