By David Gold
August 16 – The prosecutor in the Italian match-fixing scandal has appealed against the decision to acquit Juventus players Simone Pepe and Leonardo Bonucci.
Both players escaped punishment after allegations of being involved in fixing a game between Udinese and Bari, which finished 3-3.
Bonucci played in the game for Bari, while Pepe (pictured above) was in action for Udinese.
Both deny involvement, but prosecutor Stefano Palazzi had asked for Bonucci to be banned for three and a half years and Pepe for one year.
Palazzi has asked the Italian Federal Court of Justice to reverse the decision, made by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) Disciplinary Commission last week.
Bonucci and Pepe’s manager, Antonio Conte, was less fortunate, receiving a ten-month ban for his role in the scandal relating to his time at Siena.
He was found guilty of failing to report match-fixing, rather than direct involvement, and his conviction means Juventus will be without him for the defence of their Serie A title this year.
According to reports the pair will now have to defend themselves before Monday (August 20), when the Federal Court is to consider Palazzi’s request.
Meanwhile, Emanuele Pesoli, the former Siena player banned for three years, has ended a hunger strike he began at the FIGC headquarters last week.
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