Three clubs relegated over Italian soccer's biggest ever-scandal are hopeful of getting softer sentences after their respective defence teams scored points at the appeals hearing at the weekend. Juventus was relegated to Serie B, stripped of the 2005 and 2006 titles, and given a whopping 30-point penalty earlier this month by an Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) tribunal.
The Turin-based giant was hit hard because its former management was allegedly at the heart of a match-fixing ring. Fiorentina and Lazio were also sent down to the second division for involvement in the web of corruption, with penalties of 12 and seven points respectively.
Experts say a good weekend for the defences has boosted Lazio's and Fiorentina's hopes of being reinstated into the top flight.
"Fiorentina and Lazio see a little of A again," was the front-page headline in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Commentators say Juventus also has cause for optimism that its points penalty may be reduced or scrapped by the FIGC appeal judges, who are expected to announce their decisions Tuesday.
On Monday Juventus Chairman Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said he was "realistically confident" the sentence would be softened.
Lazio and Fiorentina are pursuing similar lines of defence, arguing they were victims of the Juve-orchestrated match-fixing ring, not part of it.
All they tried to do, they argued, was press FIGC chiefs into making sure they got fair treatment from match officials, after a year of being on the wrong end of decisions.
The two clubs' lawyers argued that the fact the referees who handled the games they are suspected of rigging were cleared by the FIGC tribunal suggests they did no wrong. Lazio's case was strengthened further by the testimony of a ref, who said he had not been pressured to favour the
Roman outfit in a suspect match against Brescia in the 2004-05 season.
Juventus' lawyers stressed that the 30-point penalty would keep the club out of Serie A for two seasons and the European Champions League for three. They said this was "not right" because it would have "devastating consequences" for the club's shareholders and creditors.
The other outfit found guilty of misconduct by the FIGC tribunal, AC Milan, avoided relegation and got off with a 15-point penalty.
The club owned by former premier Silvio Berlusconi is seeking a total acquittal.
FIGC Prosecutor Stefano Palazzi is also appealing against the tribunal rulings though, claiming they should be stiffer.
Palazzi believes Juventus should be relegated to the third division, while Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina should all start next season in Serie B.
If the sentences are not greatly softened, the clubs are expected to appeal to the administrative courts.
This would probably lead to the start of the soccer season to be delayed.
