Serie A team Chievo were fined €80,000 yesterday for their role in the calcio scommesse betting scandal that has blighted Italian football all summer.
Chievo took a plea bargain but newly-promoted Atalanta face a seven-point penalty for their part in the affair if found guilty.
That was the recommendation by federal prosecutor Stefano Palazzi at the Disciplinary Commission trial in Rome.
Eight people, including Vittorio Micolucci, a defender with Serie B side Ascoli, struck a deal with prosecutors and received reduced sanctions.
There are 18 teams, including two amateur sides, and 26 people including players, former players, presidents and directors in the dock.
Chievo and Atalanta are the only two teams from the top flight.
The scandal came to light at the end of last season following the revelation of an investigation by the Prosecutor of Cremona that started in November 2010.
Bettarini stunt
Chievo were fined over the behaviour of Stefano Bettarini, who was registered on their books as a player in a publicity stunt – he never played for the club.
Bettarini had retired from football in 2005 and had not played since, instead forging a career in television, but joined Chievo in October 2010 as a player but apparently to act as a consultant.
He was charged with trying to manipulate matches to fix bets and was banned for 14 months.
Micolucci’s ban, also 14 months, is for association with illicit betting activities but was reduced from the three years originally proposed by prosecutors due to his collaboration with investigators.
The biggest bans so far, of three years, were handed to Gianfranco Parlato, a coach at third division Viareggio, and Gianluca Tuccella a player at amateur side Chieti.
Also, if the prosecutor’s recom-mendations are accepted by the Disciplinary Commission both Alessandria face relegation from the third division while Ravenna could be expelled from the league altogether.
The best known individual caught up in the scandal is former Italy and Lazio striker Giuseppe Signori, accused of being one of the heads of the criminal gang fixing matches.
He faces a five-year ban while Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni faces three-and-a-half years.