Calciopoli trio go to arbitration
Wednesday 11 October, 2006
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Juventus, Milan and Lazio will all present their cases to the CONI court of arbitration today in an attempt to get their Calciopoli point penalties cut.
The trio were all handed punishments for their part in this summer’s match-fixing saga and today’s hearing represents their last chance, via the sporting courts, to appeal.
Fiorentina, a fourth club to be docked points in the scandal, will have their appeal heard by the court on Thursday.
“We are hoping to get the same sentence as all the other teams,” said Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli.
“I am confident that CONI – the Italian Olympic Committee – will treat us in the right way because we have paid a lot with the relegation into Serie B.”
The Turin giants, who already had a 30 point penalty reduced to 17 after a first appeal, are optimistic that another cut is in line.
"We are serene ahead of the sentence," said Juventus chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc last night.
"We have a big handicap, having been demoted to Serie B and given a 17-point punishment, but just as we respected the previous sentence, we will also respect the next one.
"However, we do hope to have a fair sentence which will give the players the necessary condition to have a more acceptable challenge."
The fresh verdicts are expected to be revealed towards the end of the month, with 15 days being touted as a possible timescale.
Speculation by various sources in the Italian media insist that all the clubs will see a reduction in their penalties.
Juventus started the campaign on minus 17, Milan on minus eight, Lazio on minus 11 and Fiorentina on minus 19.
Channel 4