Soccer: Juve drop, but Lazio and Fiorentina survive

ROME - The relegation of Juventus to Serie B for their role in a match-fixing scandal was confirmed by an Italian soccer appeal court today but Lazio and Fiorentina received a reprieve and will stay in Serie A.

AC Milan will also remain in the top flight as decided previously with a smaller number of points deducted -- minus eight rather than minus 15.

They will also be entered for the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

Juve did receive some clemency with the appeals court reducing the penalty points they start next season with from minus 30 to minus 17.

The decision to revoke the last two Italian league titles won by Juventus in 2005 and 2006 was confirmed by the appeals court although no decision has yet been made on who will be declared champions for those two seasons.

While not the kind of change the Turin club had hoped for the reduction does give it a chance to push for promotion back to the top flight Serie A next season.

The court overturned a tribunal's decision to relegate Fiorentina and Lazio, allowing them to stay in Serie A next season but with a heavy penalty.

Fiorentina will start the new season with minus 19 points and Lazio with minus 11 points.

AC Milan's penalty points for next season were reduced from minus 15 to minus eight and the retrospective punishment on last season's points tally was reduced from minus 44 to minus 30.

Italy's two teams automatically entered in the Champions League next season will be Inter Milan and AS Roma.

Milan and Chievo Verona will play in the qualification round.

- REUTERS