Stefano Palazzi, chief prosecutor of the Italian soccer federation, has called for all four clubs involved at the center of the match fixing scandal to be thrown out of Serie A. These would be champion Juventus, Lazio, AC Milan and Fiorentina. Palazzi also asked that Juve’s 2005 and 2006 titles be revoked. Coach Fabio Capello’s resignation capped off a miserable day for the club, whose share price plunged on the Milan stock market. Earlier on Tuesday, Italian soccer official Paolo Bergamo, one of those implicated in the scandal involving the allocation of referees, also resigned. Thirteen players in Italy’s national squad play for the four clubs. The scandal broke in May when telephone conversations were intercepted involving former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi discussing the appointment of referees during the 2004-2005 season. The other officials on trial include Milan vice president Adriano Galliani, Fiorentina owner Diego Della Valle and Lazio President Claudio Lotito. “All kinds of things go on in soccer: people give Rolexes to referees, people fix the accounts. What I’m saying is that this is an environment in which you have to protect yourself,” said former Juve chief Antonio Giraudo. Eight Italian referees face charges, including Massimo De Santis, who was set to officiate at the World Cup but was withdrawn after being indicted.
