No amnesty for Italian clubs
Wednesday, 12 July 2006 13:44The four clubs involved in Serie A's match-fixing scandal will not be granted amnesty as a result of Italy's World Cup success, according to Italian Football Federation chief investigator Francesco Borrelli.
The country is still celebrating the national team's success in Germany following their penalty shootout win over France on Sunday.
However, the Azzurri's triumph will not change the course of the trial currently taking place in Rome.
Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio are expected to learn their fate in the next few days, with the quartet facing relegation if found guilty of wrongdoing.
'I believe the disciplinary procedure should have no connection with the victory,' said Borrelli on Wednesday.
'If we say that a victory should lead to indulgence, then surely a defeat would have brought more extreme measures of severity.
'We are therefore talking about two different things.'
Borrelli did not comment on when the verdict on the match-fixing trial would be given.
Reports in Italy suggest it could be announced on Friday afternoon, once the stock exchange closes. Both Lazio and Juventus are listed on the stock exchange.
Once the verdict is announced, the clubs will have three days to appeal to the Federal Court.
The FIGC must hand UEFA the lists of teams which will be involved in European competitions by July 25.
