July 24, 2013 - 8:36 AM
ROME - Lazio is facing the possibility of a six-point deduction, and captain Stefano Mauri could be suspended for 4 1/2 years following the start of their match-fixing trial on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Stefano Palazzi has also asked for Lazio to be fined 20,000 euros ($26,000) and for Genoa and Lecce to be docked three points each.
Mauri is one of eight players accused of rigging games and failing to report match-fixing for two Serie A games — Lazio vs. Genoa and Lecce vs. Lazio in May 2011. Palazzi has requested the 33-year-old Mauri be handed the heaviest sentence, a 54-month ban.
Palazzi has recommended bans ranging from 12-42 months for Omar Milanetto, Massimiliano Benassi, Antonio Rosati, Stefano Ferrario, Mario Cassano and Alessandro Zamperini. Carlo Gervasoni plea-bargained for a 2-month reduction on his previous sentence.
Lazio, Genoa and Lecce have been charged with "objective responsibility." The trial will continue into Thursday, with sentencing expected next week.
At least 50 people have been arrested in Italy for match-fixing since mid-2011, with matches under investigation by prosecutors in Cremona, Bari and Napoli.
At the beginning of the month, Serie B club Bari plea-bargained for a one-point penalty for match-fixing.
Bari was also fined 25,000 euros ($32,000) under the deal made with the Italian federation's disciplinary committee for arranging two matches, while several former players also reached plea bargains.
This marks the third consecutive off-season that point penalties have been handed out by the federation. Four Serie A clubs were penalized last season.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013