[Bulldog]

In the biggest scandal of Europian socer in the last decades Juventus, Fiorentina, and Lazio, three of the most important teams in Italy will be forced to play in Serie B next season due to corruption, game-fixing and referee picking.

Juventus will lose the two scudettos (league championships) for the last two seasons and will start the season with -30 points while Fiorentina and Lazio will start with -12.

AC Milan, the 4th team involved will remain in Serie A but will start the season with -15 points and will not be allowed to play the UEFA champions league.

Inter Milan is likely to be awarded at least 1 of the 2 championships that were taklen away from Juve.

Definitely a tough day for Italian Soccer coming less than a week after winning the World Cup.

This will sure spice up the summer market as this clubs have players such as Gianluigui Buffon, Lilian Thuram, Fabio Cannavaro, Luca Toni, etc which will probably be looking to move elsewhere...

[Dark Horse]

Juve starts with -30 points. LOL. That means at least another year in Serie B.

This should open up some very interesting betting opportunities.

[Mudcat]

So what do people think? Are these sanctions appropriate? Too strong? Too weak?

[Bulldog]

Well Mudcat, this just happened a few hours ago so its hard to know how the different sides involved reacted.
I would guess they will be some appeals to come but I dont see how this could change.
As for DH´s comment I think this would definitely open up some good betting oportunities plus I think if the punishment stands as it is now Juve will play Serie C soccer on 2007-2008.
30 points is just too much ground to give up, plus lets remember Juve will probably lose Buffon, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Emerson, Vieira, Thuram, Camoranesi, Trezeguet, Ibrahimovic... etc. Del Piero said he would stay... lets see if he stands by his word.

[RickySteve]

Looks I'm going to have to adjust my soccer software to accomodate 5+ goal spreads.

[DrSlamm]

if this had happened any other year.. i would have no idea what this post was even about

[adriano]

Juve will have Bojinov, or so he claims himself, he will play in serie B after his transfer from Fiorentina last week, which went unnoticed by the media.

They won't play in serie C in one year's time, but they won't win all 30+ games this season also. However I also think this should open up some good betting opps, let's see how this develops.

[Concorde]

Juventus will not play in Serie C in 2007/2008 ( they will have no problems making 80 points ). Altough they will become the best serie B squad of all time, that's not sure it is enough to be promoted. They need about 100pts to make the playoffs and that is more achievable than not for them ( they made 91 last year with 38 games played, here are 42 games ).

But the main point is that this -30 is going to become a -20 or better ...

[adriano]

According to the apeal verdict Juve will start the Serie B campaign with -17 points.

They have another sports tribunal before which this can be appealed, and then the Civil Court, but i doubt it this point penalty will be reduced even more.

So far they have lost only four players (Zmbrotta, Thuram, Cannavaro and Emerson), so this is still a formidable squad, especially for the 2nd division.

I expect them to win at least 35 games, so basically
we need odds of -500 or better in all of their games or ditributed between all of their games to make a profit.

[ourbet]

Originally Posted by RickySteve

Looks I'm going to have to adjust my soccer software to accomodate 5+ goal spreads.

Hmmm...sounds interesting; and what soccer software do you use please, if I may be so bold and ask.

[RickySteve]

Originally Posted by ourbet

Hmmm...sounds interesting; and what soccer software do you use please, if I may be so bold and ask.

Proprietary.