Conte banned for 10 monthsJuventus coach Antonio Conte has been banned for 10 months in relation to a match-fixing investigation.
The coach of the reigning Serie A champions had been accused offailing to report alleged match-fixing involving Siena when he managedthem in the 2010-11 season in Serie B.
Conte failed to report attempts to influence the outcome of two Serie B matches against Novara and AlbinoLeffe.
The 43-year-old had a plea bargain deal rejected by the Italianfederation (FIGC) earlier this month, a proposal which would have seenhim serve a three-month suspension and pay a fine of ?200,000(£157,000), and the federation have now confirmed the 10-month sanction.
Grosseto and Lecce have both been excluded from Serie B for the 2012-13 campaign for theirpart in the Scommessopoli scandal, with both clubs' former presidentsbanned for five years.BannedCharges against Conte ofdirect involvement in match-fixing were dismissed last month, but theFIGC are satisfied he was aware it was taking place during his time withSiena.
His assistant coach at Juve and formerly at Siena, Angelo Alessio,has also been banned for eight months, while former Lecce presidentGiovanni Semeraro and former Grosseto president Piero Camilli are facingeven longer suspensions.
A statement from the FIGC read: "(These are) the judgments issuedtoday by the National Disciplinary Committee, chaired by SergioArtico,in relation to two cases of match-fixing.
"Among the officials, the more severe penalties are those of thepresident of Grosseto, Camilli, and the former president of Lecce,Semeraro, (for both a five-year ban); the disqualification of 10 monthsfor Antonio Conte, currently coach of
Juventus, and for eight months his deputy Angelo Alessio."
Semeraro sold Lecce in June, ending an 18-year association with the club.
DemotionIn a statement released by the FIGC, it wasconfirmed Serie B side Novara have been docked two points whiletop-flight Bologna and fourth-tier Ancona face fines of 30,000 euros and10,000 euros respectively.
Lecce have also been fined 30,000 euros in addition to theirdemotion, having been accused - along with Grosseto - of directinvolvement in match-fixing rather than the lesser charge of failing toreport it.
The FIGC also confirmed former Bari defender Nicola Belmonte has beenbanned from football for six months but six other players - LeonardoBonucci, Simone Pepe, Marco di Vaio, Salvatore Masiello, Daniele Padelliand Giuseppe Vives - have been acquitted of the charges against them.In total, 45 people and 13 clubs were under investigation, among themConte's old club Siena, who last week accepted a six-point deduction ina plea bargain deal.
Serie A newcomers Torino, Serie B side Varese and relegatedAlbinoleffe will pay fines of 30,000 euros and begin the season withone-point penalties after their plea bargains were also accepted.
AppealJuventus issued a statement saying they would offer their help in an appeal against the bans for Conte and Alessio.
"Juventus Football Club warmly welcomes the acquittal of its playersLeonardo Bonucci and Simone Pepe, and reiterates its full support forAntonio Conte and Angelo Alessio in the hope the next stage of theprocess will finally prove their innocence," read the statement."A group of legal professionals have been appointed by theindividuals concerned and, with the full support of the club, is alreadyworking to prepare grounds for an appeal."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11854/7978951/Conte-banned-for-10-months
