Juventus coach to be questioned by prosecutor over match-fixing claims

By David Gold

July 5 – Juventus coach Antonio Conte has been called to appear before the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) prosecutor next week as part of the match-fixing investigation in the country.

Conte (pictured top) has denied involvement when in charge of Serie B side Siena, whose game with Novara in April 2011 is under suspicion.

Police have said the 42-year-old is being investigated on suspicion of sporting fraud in connection with that game.

Siena went on to win promotion to Serie A, before Conte left to join Juventus, whom he led to the title unbeaten last year.

His former team have already been fined, but if he was to be charged and found guilty he could face a ban from the game, Associated Press claims.

Although these are currently only allegations, if those events were to happen then Juventus could suffer once again after the Calciopoli affair of 2006.

Then the club were relegated to Serie B and stripped of their 2005 and 2006 league titles, and this year’s success was their first since that scandal.

Also being questioned with Conte on July 13 will be Siena President Massimo Mezzaroma (pictured above, in white).

The investigation follows on from last year’s probe into the lower leagues which found a number of teams guilty and handed various points penalties and fines.

Fifty people have been arrested since last year in connection with the investigation, which led to Zenit St Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito being sent home from the Italy squad for the UEFA European Championship this summer to clear his name.

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