Italy's season delayed by scandal

Serie A will begin two weeks latter due to the aftermath of Italy's match-fixing scandal.

The league, set to begin August 27 has been moved top start on the weekend of 9-10 September.

Juventus are currently scheduled to start in Serie B with a 17-point deduction. The club filed an appeal with the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), but a verdict might not be reached until 24-25 August.

The appeal, lodged Tuesday, is the last one the club can make to a sporting authority. Juventus, who were also stripped of the Serie A titles they won in the last two seasons, have vowed to appeal to an administrative court if need be.

The appeal comes after those sent in by former club officials Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo. Both have been banned from all activities relating to football for five years.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani was the first to file an appeal against his nine-month suspension.

The appeals should be heard by August 10 at the latest, with Juventus' likely to take priority since the outcome could affect the composition of the Italian football leagues next season.

Moggi, Giraudo and Galliani will be heard subsequently, with CONI aiming to reach their conclusions by August 24 or 25.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.