Hell to everyone,
The fixture list will be announced this coming Thursday. Really hoping it will be a great season and I have faith that Mr. Zeman will serve up our first title in 12 seasons.
It seems Antonio Conte is in a bit of bother with regard to this match-fixing investigation.
Conte has received a three month ban for not reporting incidents of match-fixing.
This is getting really exciting. Conte’s plea bargain that was agreed with the prosecutor has been rejected by the FIGC, a subsequent plea bargain of a four month ban was then put forward by Conte’s legal team - this has also been rejected and his case will go to trial. Sampdoria, Siena, Pescara and Bari are some of the clubs who have accepted points reduction penalties and a number of players have also come to agreements on plea bargains.
Andrea Ranocchia was being questioned today and employed omerta when grilled by the authorities. Really fantastic and enthralling stuff here, part of what makes Italian football so great is the scandals that go hand in hand with it.
Leonardo Bonucci could face a ban of three years and six months, Simone Pepe a year, Bologna -2 points and Lecce demoted to Lega Pro as the betting trial continues.
The trial into the betting scandal continued today with prosecutor Stefano Palazzi stating his case and suggesting sentences for those who opted not to take plea bargains.
Bologna could be docked two points for the new season and fined €50,000, while Lecce would be demoted to Lega Pro with a six-point penalty.
Udinese would receive a €50,000 fine because their players were thought to be involved in match-fixing.
The big news is that Juventus defender Bonucci – dragged into the trial due to his time at Bari – could be suspended for three years and six months.
His Juventus teammate Pepe, whose charges date back to his Udinese career, would be banned for a year.
Marco Di Vaio also risks a year on the sidelines, while the other requested bans are Nicola Belmonte (four years), Simone Bentivoglio (three years and six months), Stefano Guberti (three years), Salvatore Masiello (three years and six months), Padelli (three years), Daniele Portanova (three years) and Vives (three years and six months).
Lecce are accused of knowing there was a potential fix in their games, so President Rico Semeraro – who has since sold the club – would be banned for five years.
After recently deciding to support Montreal Impact I would be very sad to see Di Vaio banned.
Conte receives a 10 month band while Bonucci and Pepe are acquitted.
What a sordid mess Italian football is. How the fuck can anyone take this sham of a league seriously?
Will Juve take him back? Hard to see them just appointing someone for 10 months unless it’s an internal appointment to one of his team who would be happy to step back in 10 months.
He’s still allowed train them and such, think it’s pretty much the same as a touchline ban.
Surely Juve will have to sack him
This is Juve we are talking about. The appeal is scheduled for the 20th of August.
some start to the season. Italian football in the gutter once more
What exactly was Conte guilty of doing?
Failing to report match-fixing.
[font=verdana][size=3]Ex-Siena defender [/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]Emanuele[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3] [/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]Pesoli[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3] has chained himself to the front of the[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]FIGC[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3] headquarters and started a hunger strike after his ban in the betting scandal.[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]
The player was suspended for three years for sporting fraud after the Disciplinary Commission gave its verdicts on Friday.[/size][/font]
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This morning, Pesoli began a high-profile protest against the decision and is demanding a face-to-face confrontation with his accusers, Filippo Carobbioand Carlo Gervasoni.[/size][/font]
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Pesoli chained himself to the gates outside the Federation headquarters in Rome and announced the start of a hunger strike.[/size][/font]
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“I want a confrontation in the courts on this injustice so I can defend myself properly,” said the 32-year-old.[/size][/font]
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“My only mistake was answering that damn phone call when they asked me to sell the game. But I said no! I am innocent and I will prove it.[/size][/font]
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“This is a strong protest, but they are ruining my life for something I didn’t do. Before I am forced to give up football, I want to fight with all my strength.[/size][/font]
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“I will wait here for someone from the FIGC, hopefully President GiancarloAbete.”[/size][/font]
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He was punished as part of the same evidence used to ban ex-Siena Coach Antonio Conte for 10 months and his assistant Angelo Alessio for eight months.[/size][/font]
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Those accused in the betting trial have complained they are not allowed to question the whistleblowers in court.
[font=verdana][size=3]The appeals process begins on August 20.[/size][/font]
Justice for Pesoli![/size][/font]
Big war of words has broke out over Zeman’s comments on Conte’s ban. Sets up the season nicely as I believe we will be Juve’s strongest challenger this season. Zeman sure has a way of noising up those Turin cunts. Get the 30th of September marked out in your diaries lads, we travel to Turin to prove a point.
Things kick off very shortly in Florence between Fiorentina and Udinese. Fiorentina look great value at close to evens as Udinese have rested a lot of players with midweek in mind and are noticeably weaker than last season. Fiorentina have had a great summer transfer campaign and will want to get the season off to a good start under new manager Montella.
Pizarro running the show for Fiorentina.
Maicosuel gives Udinese the lead against the run of play.
The mercurial Jovetic levels things up in Florence.