Convicted match fixer chains himself to Italian FA gate

Emanuele Pesoli, the Verona defender handed a three-month ban for his part in the Italian match-fixing scandal, has chained himself to the gates of the Italian football federation headquarters in Rome and gone on hunger strike in protest.
The former Siena player, was among a number of players, coaches, clubs and team owners to be hit with bans by the federation on Friday after verdicts were reached in an illegal betting probe.

Juventus coach Antonio Conte, also facing a police investigation, was banned for 10 months for not reporting match-fixing while boss of Siena and Pesoli.
'I am hurt by the sentence and I would like to confront those who accuse me,' Pesoli, 31, told Gazzetta dello Sport's website, questioning the testimony of other players which helped convict him.
'It is a strong protest but they are ruining my life for something I have not done. I will stay here until I can't do it anymore.'

Italian soccer had only just recovered from a damaging 2006 match-fixing scandal and the new affair has again shone a light on the shady dealings which have blighted Serie A and B for years.
Turin giants Juventus were demoted in the 2006 scandal centred on referees but after years of woe finally bounced back to win the Serie A title last season in Conte's first term in charge.
They are now left embroiled in another scandal, this time not of their making, but have stood by Conte and say he will ultimately be exonerated by an appeal expected to conclude by September.
Assistant coach Massimo Carrera will manage the team in Conte's absence.

SBSP wrote:Can't you at least site a decent source?

Danny wrote:Does it matter if he posted an article from the Mail, when there's a picture of him doing it?

SBSP wrote:Can't you at least site a decent source?

SBSP wrote:Can't you at least site a decent source?

Danny wrote:Does it matter if he posted an article from the Mail, when there's a picture of him doing it?

SBSP wrote:Can't you at least site a decent source?

SBSP wrote:I wasn't doubting that he did it. Just wondering why you have to give that site traffic.

SBSP wrote:I wasn't doubting that he did it. Just wondering why you have to give that site traffic.

Former Siena defender Emanuele Pesoli has ended his four-day hunger strike in protest against the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

The defender chained himself to the gates of the FIGC headquarters in Rome on Saturday after being banned from football for three years for alleged involvement in match fixing.

But the 32-year-old, sitting on a chair under an umbrella, ate for the first time on Wednesday morning before ending his protest later in the evening after a phonecall from FIGC vice president Demetrio Albertini.

Pesoli will meet with FIGC president Giancarlo Abete for talks on Friday having staunchly denied any wrongdoing since the verdicts were issued last week.

Quoted in the Gazzetta dello Sport, Pesoli said: "I've ended my protest partly because of what Albertini said to me, and partly because of president Abete's involvement.

"I will meet him at 10am on Friday at the FIGC."



Weak and tired

The wider verdicts of the 'Calcioscommesse' trial included suspension for Juventus coach Antonio Conte, who received a 10-month suspension for allegedly failing to report match-fixing while in charge of Siena.

Serie B clubs Grosseto and Lecce were demoted to the Lega Pro for their involvement.

Pesoli added: "I was also advised by my doctor, who urged me to eat something this morning.

"I'm weak, a bit tired, my blood pressure's not great and I've lost a few pounds.

"It shouldn't be a problem to resume (the protest). My health's not been too badly compromised, it's more a case of mental scars."

Chat

The defender, who has agreed to move to Verona, is under no illusions over the nature of Friday's meeting with Abete.

Pesoli said: "None of the public prosecutors or court representatives showed up and I was also disappointed with AIC, the players' union, from whom I expected more concrete support during my protest, but instead they just issued a statement.

"Meeting Abete will be a good show of solidarity, but I do not think that the president can influence decisions of justice.

"It will just be a chat, but maybe it will make the federal prosecutors listen."