Serie A (en overig Italiaans voetbal) #27:Juve in de Serie B

quote:

Lens want Milan spot

French club Lens are ready to do battle with UEFA in a bid to replace scandal-hit Milan in next season’s Champions League.

The outfit have sent all necessary documentation to the European football governing body and will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary.

After the emergency meeting held on Thursday, UEFA decided to include Milan in Friday’s preliminary round draw on a provisional basis.

UEFA are considering their options on ethical grounds and the panel will meet again on August 2 to confirm its final decision.

If Milan were not admitted, France could add a name to the list of teams for the next Champions League and Lens, who finished fourth in Ligue 1 last term, argue they should benefit.

“I didn’t think that the Italian teams would be allowed to take part in the European competitions next year,” stated Lens director general Francis Collado.

“On the other hand, I find it reassuring that UEFA itself questions if it would be appropriate to admit Milan to the next Champions League,” he concluded.

Lens have asked UEFA to examine the issue carefully and have stressed the importance of the ethical and moral aspects of the controversy.

Lens President Gervais Martel said he will do all that is in his power to protect the rights of his club and of all French football.

A simple end to this story is very unlikely given that Lens are threatening an appeal to CAS in case the August 2 decision is not the one hoped for.

quote:

We’re innocent, insist Reggina

Reggina President Pasquale Foti has denied any wrongdoing after he was questioned on Thursday in the second phase of the Calciopoli inquiries.

Reggina, placed 15th in the past season, are being investigated with respect to six matches played in the 2004-05 season.

Investigators believe Reggina were one of the clubs involved in the so called 'Moggi-system', aimed at predetermining match results by rigging referee designations.

Foti was also called to answer on his relationship with former Juventus directors Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo, as well as the phone calls that took place between the two parties before the Reggina-Juventus match of the campaign in question.

“Juventus and Moggi? I believe Reggina have always proved to be autonomous and independent,” said Foti after he left the Italian Football Federation building following his two hour hearing.

“I’m calm, we always behaved correctly and have nothing to fear,” went on Foti as he looked to reassure the fans.

“It was a normal interrogation, I answered the questions precisely and am confident that there is no reason to fear an indictment for the team,” added the Amaranto President.

The inquiry commission have also heard from referees Massimo De Santis and Pietro Dondarini, as well as former referees' chief Paolo Bergamo, all implicated in the first trial, that sentenced Juventus, Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina.

The commission ended the auditions on Thursday afternoon and chief Francesco Saverio Borrelli is now called to submit his report, which should be ready before the end of the week.

That document will then be passed on to the FIGC prosecutor Stefano Palazzi who may call for new indictments for Reggina and possibly Arezzo, Messina, Siena and Lecce.

All clubs involved have pleaded their innocence and denied wrongdoing.

quote:

Op zaterdag 29 juli 2006 11:49 schreef numero_uno het volgende:

[..]

Klopt maar het zal nog best wel eens 'erger' kunnen worden als ze door blijven procederen

quote:

Serie A kick-off delay?

Reports in Italy suggest that it is very unlikely that the Serie A and Serie B championships will start on August 27 as scheduled.

The probable starting date may be September 10, after an almost four-month break, considering that the Azzurri will play their first Euro 2008 qualifying matches on September 2 and 6.

Federal Commissioner Guido Rossi had guaranteed there would be no delay, but the appeals of the teams involved in the Calciopoli scandal and the evolving second phase inquiries will probably take up most of August.

Earlier today the trio of Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio presented their appeals to the CONI Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, the highest degree in sporting justice, hoping to overturn the verdicts handed down on July 25.

CONI’s decisions should arrive within August 10 and if the clubs and officials involved are still not satisfied they may decide to appeal to the civil courts, namely TAR.

The commission who was assigned the second phase of the Calciopoli inquiries ended its inquiry on Thursday afternoon and chief Francesco Saverio Borrelli submitted his report on Monday.

FIGC prosecutor Stefano Palazzi may call for new indictments for Reggina and possibly Arezzo, Messina, Siena and Lecce before the end of the week, while the first degree verdicts are expected for mid-month.

Reggina are the ones risking the most and are being investigated with regards to six matches played in the 2004-05 season.

The clubs involved have pleaded their innocence and denied any wrongdoing, but it will be very difficult to wrap up all the appeals before the end of August.