Juventus seeks leniency in appeal
ROME The lawyer representing Juventus at the appeals trial in Italy's match-fixing scandal pleaded for leniency Sunday, saying that the decision by a sports tribunal last week to relegate the club to the second division with a 30-point penalty would have "devastating consequences."
"Just to survive in Serie B next season we estimate that Juventus will have to earn about 80 points - equivalent to winning 27 of their 40 matches," Cesare Zaccone told the appeal court's panel of five judges.
Zaccone told the court the effects of the sentence were already being felt in the exodus of the club's leading players.
"The career for a soccer player is short and some of our best players are world champions," he said.
"None of them wants to risk two years in Serie B or, worse still, relegation to Serie C1."
Zaccone also asked the court to consider the effects of a heavy sanction on Juventus's income from sponsorship and television rights, and the effect on investors, who have shares in the club.
Moggi's conduct, Zaccone argued, did not constitute "sporting fraud" but a violation of the lesser crime of "unfair conduct," which gave the court "greater freedom to choose an appropriate sanction. "
The president of the appeals court, Piero Sandulli, said he hoped to release a verdict by Tuesday.
Reuters
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