Italian football went on trial on Thursday at a sports tribunal hearing in Rome that will decide whether four of the country’s top clubs colluded to rig matches over a period of several years.
The scandal, which broke last month, has dominated headlines in football-crazed Italy, and could result in the teams being excluded from European competition and relegated to second-division play.
Half of Italy’s World Cup squad are on the payroll of four Serie A clubs implicated, AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina and Juventus.
The president of the Federal Appeals Commission, Cesare Ruperto, opened the proceedings, in which 26 club and national officials, referees and linesmen accused of sporting fraud have been summoned.
The charges allege that corrupt referees manipulated matches, mostly in favour of Juventus, who have won four of the past five championships.
Of particular interest to Italian Football Federation (FIGC) prosecutor Stefano Palazzi are 19 matches from the 2004/05 championship, although the hearing will also probe player transfers and the sale of television rights.
The trial, following an FIGC investigation by anti-corruption judge Francesco Saverio Borelli, was sparked by a criminal investigation launched by prosecutors in the southern city of Naples.
The sports tribunal is due to hand down its judgement sometime between July 7 and July 9, the day of the World Cup final in Germany, with a final ruling on any appeals by July 20. — AFP
