Juventus, Lazio, Fiorentina relegated (for match fixing)

[muriel_volestrangler]

Juventus, Lazio, and Fiorentina were all relegated to Serie B on Friday after being found guilty of influencing match officials during the 2004/05 Serie A season.

AC Milan were found guilty as well, but will remain in Serie A with a 15-point penalty to start the 2006/07 season.

The three relegated clubs also received points penalties of differing severity on top of their demotion to the second tier of Italian football. Juventus were docked 30 points, Fiorentina 12 points, and Lazio seven points.

In addition, Juventus' Serie A championships from 2004/05 and 2005/06 have both been stripped and all four clubs have been banned from European competition for the 2006/07 season.

http://www.soccerway.com/news/2006/July/14/juventus-lazio-fiorentina-relegated/

Presumably the points deductions refer to the upcoming season - in which case Juventus at least should stay in that tier another year - I'd have thought 30 points would be impossible to overcome. A come dow nfor the World Cup winners at those clubs (but French and other players play there too); I wonder what the contracts they have allow the players to do about transferring to other clubs in the top leagues.

[northzax]

1. welcome to the firesale

most of the contracts will be abrogated with the demotion, I understand. You can bet that Chelsea, Real, Barca and ManU are licking their chops...

[jakefrep]

2. Apparently, that crook Berlusconi got AC Milan out of trouble....

..as they stay up in Serie A, albeit with a point handicap for the current season.

I'm pretty sure most of the star players are going to be sold off to top-tier clubs. There was some mention during the World Cup that many of the players have clauses in their contracts which demand a sale if the team is relegated.

[brentspeak]

3. FIFA apparently didn't have the guts to relegate AC Milan

Even though the team deserved it.

[T_i_B]

5. Not FIFA, but the Italian Federation

All the same, do you have to wonder what influence Berlusconi may have had.

Anyway, The biggest transfer market in history has just opened its doors. Anyone fancy of the following players at their clubs?

Viera
Cannavaro
Toni
Buffon
Zambrotta
Nedved
Camoranesi
Kaka
Pirlo
Nesta
Ujfalusi

[meow2u3]

4. The SportsCenter anchor mentioned that the Juventus demotion

is like the Yankees being relegated to AAA (for being caught working the umps).