Juventus Coach Banned for 10 Months for Match Fixing

Juventus FC Head Coach Antonia Conte has received a 10 month ban from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for his part in the latest long running scandal to affect Italian football.

The punishment is for his refusal to report match fixing while at his previous club Siena.

His assistant Angelo Alessio also receives a ban. More serious charges against Conte of active involvment had already been dismissed, but the FIGC was satisfied Conte was aware of the practice during his time with Siena.

Both Alessio and Conte say they will appeal.

Juve were heavily punished for a previous scandal known as Calciopoli in which they were relegated and stripped of titles.

Nonetheless Juve were standing by their man. A club statement read:

“Juventus reiterates its full support for Antonio Conte and Angelo Alessio in the hope the next stage of the process will finally prove their innocence.

A group of legal professionals have been appointed by the individuals concerned and, with the full support of the club, is already working to prepare grounds for an appeal.”

A stream of arrests have already been made in the current investigation which forced Italian Head Coach Cesar Prandelli to say he had ‘No Problem if Italy Pull out of EURO 2012′.

Montreal Impact’s Marco Di Vaio was cleared of all charges against him though on Friday morning. He faced a 12 month ban if convicted. He had been accused of failing to disclose knowledge of an attempted sporting fraud by former Bologna teammate Daniele Portanova in May 2011.

Portanova received a six month ban.