Conte referred over Italy betting scandal
Reuters - Thursday 26 July 2012, 17:48
Juventus manager Antonio Conte and
the club's Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci have been ordered to
appear before a sporting tribunal over their alleged involvement
in a widening Italian football betting scandal, authorities said
on Thursday.
In total, 13 clubs and 45 players and training staff have
been referred to the Italian football federation's disciplinary
commission over the match-fixing allegations, the Italian
Football Federation said.
Conte, who led Juventus to the Serie A title last season, is
accused of failing to report match-fixing in two games in the
2010/11 season when he was coach of the Serie B side Siena.
If the tribunal finds against him, he could face a
suspension of several months, Italian media said.
The matches concerned were between Novara and Siena in May
2011, which ended 2-2, and between Albinoleffe and Siena in the
same month which ended in a 1-0 defeat for Siena.
Bonucci, who played in the Euro 2012 championships last
month, is accused of involvement in an attempt to fix the result
of a match when he played for Bari in 2010, a charge which could
see him banned for up to three years.
The match against Udinese in May 2010 ended in a 3-3 draw.
The "Calcioscommesse" scandal echoes earlier match-fixing
scandals which tarnished the image of Italian football in the
1980s and before the 2006 World Cup.
Prosecutors believe an international gambling ring paid
players to throw matches deliberately. Dozens of current and
former players in teams ranging from the Serie A top division
down to the lower leagues may have been involved.
Conte's hearing will begin on August 1 and is expected to last
two days. Bonucci's hearing begins on August 3.