The final verdict in the long-running calciopoli trial has been confirmed, with some charges dropped and others affected by the statute of limitations.
It was reported last night that former Juventus director Luciano Moggi had not been acquitted, but his sentence was written off as the statute of limitations had expired, as recommended by the prosecutor.
After six hours of deliberations last night, the final verdicts were announced by the Supreme Court, with Moggi cleared of two counts of sporting fraud.
A sentence of over two years in prison for criminal conspiracy was written off, but that does not mean Moggi was acquitted, just that the statute of limitations had expired and the sentence could not be enforced.
Another former Juventus director, Antonio Giraudo, will also avoid one year and eight months in prison for fraud, thanks to the statute of limitations.
Former referees Paolo Bertini and Antonio Dattilo were acquitted by the Supreme Court, but the appeal of fellow whistler Massimo De Santis was rejected.
The latter had already accepted a 10-month suspended prison sentence.
The prosecutor’s appeal against the acquittals of referees Paolo Dondarini, Gianluca Rocchi and Tiziano Pieri as well as AIC President Tullio Lanese was rejected by the court.
The reasons for the dropping of some charges but not others will not be clear until the court releases its motivations, which could take several weeks.
“I feel a great disappointment,” De Santis said after the verdict.
“I wouldn’t wish this kind of justice on anyone. It seems to me like I’ve been discriminated against.
“Now I’m waiting to read the motivations, I want to understand why I was the only referee involved.”
Luciano Moggi saw the verdicts differently, insisting that they proved the League was not falsified.
“This has been an unpleasant thing, and it’s all ended up in nothing.
“In nine years it’s been established that the League was regular, the selection [of the referees] was regular and that there were no communications.”
The decision marks the last level of criminal proceedings into the Calciopoli trial, but civil actions could rumble on for years to come.
Juventus are seeking €443m in damages from the FIGC over lost revenue and damage to reputation.
Calciomercato ponders whether - with only De Sanctis and Salvatore Racalbuto among the referees judged guilty - the Bianconeri’s case would be strengthened.
However, with the charge that Moggi was engaged in criminal conspiracy not overturned, it would appear difficult for the Old Lady to win damages.
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. I can't think about this too much because it makes my blood boil, so I guess I just have to laugh at how fucked up the Italian legal system is.
