FIFA threatens Italy with expulsion over Juventus appeal

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Wednesday August 23, 2006

Rome- World Cup winners Italy and all its clubs face expulsion from international competition by the world governing football body FIFA if Juventus Turin appeal sanctions over a match-fixing affair before an administrative court. A FIFA deadline to the Italian football federation FIGC passed on Wednesday noon. But the FIGC said that Juve have so far not formally lodged the appeal.

Under FIFA rules, all football disputes must be solved by sports courts and arbitration panels - the highest being the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

But Juve said Monday that they plan to go before an administrative court in order to get milder sanctions over the match-fixing scheme after an appeal before the Italian Olympic Committee failed last Friday.

In a final FIGC ruling from July 24, Juve were demoted into Serie B with a 17-point deduction and lost the 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur