Friday, 10 August 2012

Antonio Conte Banned for Ten Months


Juventus coach Antonio Conte has been banned for 10 months after an investigation into match-fixing claims.

Last year Conte, 43, led the club to the Serie A title in his first season in charge without losing a single game.

Conte was accused of failing to report alleged match-fixing involving former club Siena in the 2010-11 season.

Antonio Conte
Spent 13 years as a player at Juventus from 1991, making more than 400 league appearances.
He won five league titles and a European Cup as a midfielder with the club.
Conte won 35 caps for Italy, and was part of the team which finished runners-up at Euro 2000.
In addition to Juventus and Siena, he has also managed Arezzo, Bari and Atalanta.

After being questioned by police in May, Conte denied the claims and said he was "strongly determined to prove his total innocence".

Conte had a plea bargain deal rejected by the Italian federation (FIGC) earlier this month. He put forward a proposal which would have seen him serve a three-month suspension and pay a fine of 200,000 euros.

The federation has now confirmed the 10-month sanction.

Police had previously said Conte was being investigated on suspicion of sporting fraud and fraudulent association over allegations concerning a match between his Serie B side Siena and Novara in April 2011.

Grosseto and Lecce have both been excluded from Serie B, the Italian second tier, for the 2012-13 season for their part in the scandal, with both clubs' former presidents banned for five years.

In May, police searched more than 30 homes, including those of players, trainers and administrators of clubs in Serie A, Serie B and lower divisions.

Lazio captain Stefano Mauri, 32, was held along with former Genoa midfielder Omar Milanetto, while officers visited Italy's pre-Euro 2012 training camp to question left-back Domenico Criscito, 25.

Five people were also arrested in Hungary on suspicion of being part of an illegal international betting ring.

The action followed the launch last June of a match-fixing task force in response to a number of high-profile cases.

Former Atalanta captain and Italy midfielder Cristiano Doni was banned for three-and-a-half years in August 2011 for his part in the 'Calcioscommesse' scandal involving Serie B matches last season. He was also arrested in December 2011 over match-fixing and betting allegations.

In addition, former Lazio and Italy striker Giuseppe Signori was banned for five years and 15 other players were banned for between one and five years for their parts.


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