Italy's biggest-ever sports trial opens today before a panel of judges who will try four top clubs on match-fixing charges which could force them out of Serie A and European competition.
The six-strong panel will convene in Rome's Olympic Stadium to consider charges against Serie A champions Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio, as well as 26 senior officials, referees and linesmen.
The trial will run for the duration of the World Cup in Germany and vie for Italians' attention with the progress of the national team, who have 13 players from the four accused clubs.
Italy face Ukraine on Friday in the quarter-finals and their players say they are focused on the job in hand rather than the fate of their clubs being decided back in Rome.
When an Argentine reporter asked Alessandro Nesta in Duisburg about the scandal on Wednesday, the AC Milan defender snapped: 'Is everything fine in your country? I think everyone needs to look after their own house.'
Soccer-mad Italy has been gripped by the scandal since it erupted last month with the publication of intercepted telephone conversations showing former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi discussing refereeing appointments with senior Italian Football Federation officials during the 2004-05 season.
The accused are charged with sporting fraud and unfair conduct, which could lead to the teams being relegated and stripped of their titles and the individuals being either suspended or banned from football.
Juventus, who have won the Serie A title for the last two seasons, are believed to face the greatest risk of relegation.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC), which appointed the tribunal, has said it will rule by July 9 - the date of the World Cup final - and that appeals will be heard by July 20.
Cesare Ruperto, the former head of Italy's Constitutinoal Court, will preside over Thursday's session.
