ROME - Italy's most successful soccer club Juventus were relegated to the second division Serie B along with former champions Fiorentina and Lazio after a sports tribunal found the club guilty of offences in a match-fixing trial.
Bringing to a head the biggest scandal in European soccer for decades, the
tribunal also ruled that AC Milan, although they will stay in Serie A, would have their points from last season reduced by 44 points -- ruling them out of next season's Champions League.
Juventus were stripped of their last two title wins -- from 2006 and 2005.
All four clubs will start next season with points penalties with Juventus forced to begin their Serie B campaign with minus 30 points -- almost ensuring they will spend at least two seasons in Serie B.
Milan will start their Serie A campaign next season with minus 15 points.
The clubs have the opportunity to appeal the decision.
Together the four clubs punished accounted for most of the players in the Italy team which last week beat France to win the World Cup after a penalty shootout.
Many of the top players from Juventus may seek new clubs either in Italy or elsewhere in Europe.
Coach Fabio Capello, who guided Juventus to the two titles they have been stripped of, quit as coach last week and joined Spanish club Real Madrid.
The scandal broke in May with the publication of intercepted telephone conversations between a former Juventus official and Italian soccer authorities discussing refereeing appointments.
As well as the clubs, the tribunal barred a number of club officials from the game for varying lengths.
Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi, who was at the centre of the scandal, was banned from the game for five years and ex-Federation president Franco Carraro for four and a half years.
A prosecutor who made charges had sought relegation to the third division Serie C for 29-times Italian champions Juventus.
Officials from some of the Italian clubs named in the scandal have said they will turn to Italy's civil courts, raising the prospect of a messy legal battle.
- REUTERS
