The appeals in Italian football’s match-fixing scandal began early on Saturday in a Rome hotel, Italian media reported.
A sporting tribunal must decide whether to confirm the relegation of Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio to the second division for their part in influencing which referees were selected for their matches last season.
AC Milan are also appealing the decision to withdraw them from next season’s Champions League.
Though the four teams have appealed, prosecutor Stefano Palazzi believes the penalties imposed have been too lenient.
The tribunal is presided by Piero Sandulli in the presence of several of those implicated in the scandal, including referee Massimo de Santis, former president of the Italian football federation Franco Carraro and Diego della Valle, Fiorentina’s club president.
The verdict is expected by July 27, which is also the deadline set by European football’s governing body UEFA for clubs to be entered into European competitions.
The scandal broke in early May after transcripts of former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi telling the head of Italy’s refereeing commision what officials he wanted appointed to specific games were published in the Italian media. – AFP
