Calciopoli, GUILTY!

Milano, 09 November 2011

Moggi sentenced to 5 years and 4 months for criminal conspiracy to commit sporting fraud, along with Bergamo (3 years and 8 months) and Mazzini (2 years and 2 months). The Della Valle brothers (Fiorentina) and Lotito (Lazio) were also convicted of sporting fraud. The former Juventus executive has been banned from holding public office for life.

The court of Naples has come down on Calciopoli with a heavy hand. Judge Casoria arrived punctually at 20:00 to read out the long sentence: 16 convictions and 8 acquittals. The charge against Moggi was confirmed and he was sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison (as well as being banned from attending sporting events and banned from holding public office) for “favouring a criminal conspiracy”, together with former referee designator Paolo Bergamo (3 years and 8 months) and Innocenzo Mazzini (2 years and 2 months). Pairetto was handed 1 year and 11 months (without the conspiracy). The following individuals were acquitted: Rodomonti, Fazzi, Fabiani, Mazzei, Scardina, Ambrosino, Ceniccola and Gemignani. All claims for compensation filed against Juventus were rejected – the court evidently judging that the club was not fully aware of the crimes committed.

RULING — The sentence recognises the existence of a 'cupola', an organised criminal system controlling Italian football headed by Luciano Moggi (who also ordered specific players to be booked, since he was found guilty of doing so for the Udinese v Brescia and Fiorentina v Bologna fixtures). Delving deeper there are other parts of the ruling worth reflecting upon. Luciano Moggi was permanently banned from holding public office following his conviction of criminal conspiracy (to commit sporting fraud), while Paolo Bergamo was banned from holding public office for 5 years. A ban on attending sports event (DASPO) - which will only come into effect at the end of the appeals process – was given to Bergamo, Bertini, Dattilo, De Santis, the two Della Valle brothers, Foti, Lotito, Mazzini, Meani, Mencucci, Pairetto, Puglisi, Racalbuto, Titomanlio and, of course, Luciano Moggi. Another important section regards claims for compensation. The court of Naples rejected claims made by RAI, Juventus and FIGC (which, however, was also named as a beneficiary) and accepted claims made by the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Brescia, Atalanta, Bologna, Salernitana Sport Spa (bankrupt), Vittoria 2000 srl (which had shares in Bologna, now bankrupt), Federconsumatori Campania (Consumers' association), FIGC and Lecce. Compensation claims by the civil parties were made on 7 June for a total of €193 million. The damages will be “awarded at a later date”.

Luciano Moggi (left) with one of his laywers in court, Naples. Ansa

              

THE PROSECUTORS' REQUESTS AND THE SENTENCES GIVEN — 
Luciano Moggi (ex-general manager of Juventus) 5 years and 8 months – 5 years and 4 months, permanently banned from holding public office. DASPA (banned from attending sporting events) for 5 years. 
Paolo Bergamo (ex-referee designator) 5 years – 3 years and 8 months, banned from holding public office for 5 years. 
Innocenzo Mazzini (former vice-president of FIGC) 4 years – 2 years and 2 months. 
Pierluigi Pairetto (ex-referee designator) 4 years and 6 months – 1 year and 11 months. 
Massimo De Santis (ex-referee) 3 years – 1 year and 11 months.
Salvatore Racalbuto (ex-referee) 2 years and 2 months - 1 year and 8 months.
Lillo Foti (president of Reggina) 2 years and 80 thousand euro fine – 1 year and 6 months and 30 thousand euro fine. Paolo Bertini (ex-referee) 2 years and 4 months – 1 year and 5 months.Antonio Dattilo (ex-referee) 1 year and 8 months – 1 year and 5 months.
Claudio Lotito (president of Lazio) 1 year and 10 months and 70 thousand euro fine – 1 year and 3 months and 25 thousand euro fine. 
Sandro Mencucci (Fiorentina CEO) 1 year and 8 months – 1 year and 3 months and 25 thousand euro fine. 
Diego Della Valle (owner of Fiorentina) 2 years and 80 thousand euro fine – 1 year and 3 months and 25 thousand euro fine.
Andrea Della Valle (ex-president of Fiorentina) 1 year and 10 months and 70 thousand euro fine - 1 year and 3 months and 25 thousand euro fine.
Claudio Puglisi (ex-linesman) 1 year and 2 months and 20 thousand euro fine – 1 year and 20 thousand euro fine. 
Stefano Titomanlio (ex-linesman) 1 year – 1 year and 20 thousand euro fine
Leonardo Meani (former AC Milan aide to referees) 1 year and 6 months and 50 thousand euro fine – 1 year and 20 thousand euro fine.
Gennaro Mazzei (ex-assistant to referee designators) 1 year and 4 months and 10 thousand euro fine – Acquitted.
Mariano Fabiani (ex-sporting director of Messina) 3 years and 8 months – Acquitted.
Maria Grazia Fazi (FIGC secretary) 1 year and 6 months – Acquitted.
Ignazio Scardina (journalist) 1 year and 2 months - Acquitted.
Pasquale Rodomonti (ex-referee) 1 year and 20 thousand euro fine –Acquitted.
Ambrosino, Ceniccola, Gemignani (linesmen) acquitted - Acquitted.

Source : GDS