The curtains were finally drawn on the Calciopoli trial yesterday when chief suspect Luciano Moggi was found guilty of sporting fraud and sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison.
The 74 year old was director of Juventus during the infamous 2005/2006 season when the club was demoted to Serie B for its involvement in match fixing scandals that saw them win the league that season.
Ironically, Moggi will not serve any of his sentence in an actual prison cell as this being a first-degree sentence, Italian laws give him the opportunity to contest the judgement through its many appeal levels.
Sentences were also handed out to former refereeing designators Paolo Bergamo and Pierluigi Pairetto. The scandal that also involved Fiorentina, Lazio and AC Milan saw Fiorentina owners Diego and Andrea Della Valle and Lazio President Claudio Lotitohanded prison terms.
Paolo Bergamo was sentenced to 3 years and 8 months while Pierluigi Pairetto was sentenced to 1 year and 11 months. Diego and Andrea Della Valle and Claudio Lotito were sentenced to 1 year and 3 months each.
Mr Moggi’s lawyer Maurilio Prioreschi revealed that he did not expect such a sentence and although they had lost the first round, they would file an appeal to contest the decision.
“I absolutely did not expect this sentence,”
“We have only lost the first round, we will try to turn the situation around in appeal.
“We will do everything until we have justice. Moggi is devastated, he does not understand how he has been given this sentence.
“We now have 90 days to know the grounds for the decision and prepare our defence for the appeal.”
Juventus has never been the same ever since the scandal. In the days after the scandal was revealed, a host of the club’s top stars led by the then captain Fabio Cannavaro ditched the club in search of greener pastures.
The club was demoted to the Serie B and the both their scudetto titles of the 2004/2005 and the 2005/2006 season revoked and handed to Inter Milan a decision that is still controversial up to this day.
That said, the Bianconeri are experiencing a return to form this season and many believe they could win their first title in 8 years.
Photo Credit © fellata d’agnino