Reggina handed points penalty

2006-08-18 11:40

Rome - Reggina, the latest club to be implicated in the Italian match-fixing scandal, survived demotion from Serie A on Thursday but were penalised 15 points for the new campaign, an Italian Football Federation (FIGC) tribunal decided.

The club's 56-year-old president Lillo Foti, three referees, two assistant referees and another official had been targeted by prosecutors who accused them of trying to predetermine the result of six matches last season.

Italian Football Federation prosecutor Stefano Palazzi had asked the sporting tribunal to hand the club a points penalty for the season ahead, but also wanted them relegated to the Second Division.

However, Reggina, who were also fined 100 000 euros, have survived the fate which befell mighty Juventus who were dumped into the second tier of Italian football for their role in the scandal which rocked the sport in the country.

Foti was suspended from footballing activity for two years and six months, as well as being fined 30 000 euros.

"The fact that the tribunal has kept Reggina in Serie A is recognition of the sacrifices made by the team," Foti told the ANSA news agency.

"I reaffirm my innocence."

As part of the investigation, which centred on intercepted phone calls, Serie B side Arezzo were also facing demotion to the third tier.

They have maintained their Serie B status, but with a nine-point deduction.

They were punished after suspicions were raised over their 1-0 win over Salernitana in the 2004-05 season.

Assistant referee Stefano Titomanlio and Gennaro Mazzei, a former FIGC official in charge of assigning assistant referees, were suspended for three years.

Leonardo Meani, a former AC Milan official, was handed a three month ban and his former club fined 10 000 euros.

In the first phase of punishments earlier this summer, AC Milan were docked eight points for the season ahead and 30 points from last season's finish.

They retained their Serie A place while Juventus face a season at least in Serie B, and will start the campaign with a 17-point penalty.

Lazio and Fiorentina both face double-figure point penalties in Serie A.

- SAPA