Genoa relegated to third division over match-fixing

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Newly-promoted Genoa has been demoted from Serie A to the third division after the Italian Football League found evidence of match-fixing. The League's disciplinary commission investigated a €250,000 payment from Genoa to their opponents Venezia before the final Serie B game of the season on 11 June and said telephone taps showed it was aimed at "guaranteeing" the result.

The club’s 3-2 win over already-relegated Venezia secured them promotion. Now the club who won six of the first seven Italian championships will play in Serie C1. Club

president Enrico Preziosi and general manager Stefano Capozucca were handed five-year bans from holding positions in the game for their roles in the affair. Genoa said in a statment that Preziosi had resigned.

Francesco Dal Cin, managing director of Venezia who were declared bankrupt in June, was also given a five-year ban. Martin Lejsal and Massimo Borgobello, players with Venezia last season, were given bans of five and six months. Genoa will start their campaign with a three-point penalty imposed by the League. All the decisions can be appealed.