Juventus hopeful as appeals start in match-fixing scandal

The lawyer representing Juventus at the appeals trial in Italy's match-fixing scandal said yesterday he was hopeful that the sentence handed down on July 14 by a sports tribunal would be reduced.

Juventus, Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio - all from Italy's top Serie A division - were found guilty of conspiring with referees and linesmen to rig games during the 2004/05 season.

Juventus were stripped of their last two Serie A titles and ordered to start next season in the second division Serie B on minus 30 points.

"I believe there are ample margins for the points penalty to be reduced," said Cesare Zaccone shortly before the appeals trial opened at Rome's luxurious Hotel Parco Dei Principi.

Juventus have been at the centre of the scandal since it began in early May with the publication of intercepted telephone conversations between their then general manager Luciano Moggi and senior Italian Football Federation (FIGC) officials, discussing refereeing appointments during the 2004/05 season.

The club has consistently argued that Moggi was acting independently and without their knowledge.

Asked whether he believed Juventus stood a chance of being reinstated in Serie A, Zaccone seemed less optimistic. "Let's see. But let's not get our hopes up," he said.

Like Juventus, the other three clubs involved have also denied any wrongdoing and are appealing against what they claim are the unjust sentences of the sports tribunal. Fiorentina and Lazio were sent down to Serie B with points penalties. Milan avoided relegation, but were thrown out of next season's Champions League and ordered to start their next Serie A campaign on minus 15 points.

Fiorentina owner Diego Della Valle told reporters outside the hotel that he had come to "put things straight."

"We only hope these judges manage to see things clearly because we've done nothing wrong," he said.

On the opening morning of the appeals trial, the judges summarised the arguments raised in the tribunal and listened to a series of legal objections by defence lawyers.

The appeals court is in a race against time to deliver its verdicts before the July 25 deadline set by UEFA for the FIGC to submit its list of teams for next season's Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions.

Should the appeals process remain unfinished on July 25, the FIGC commissioner Guido Rossi has said that Italy's list to UEFA would reflect the verdicts of the sports tribunal.

In that case, Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina would lose their places in the Champions League to make way for Roma, Chievo and Palermo.