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Former Juventus general director Luciano Moggi has been sentenced to five years and four months in prison. This punishment was imposed on him for forming an organized criminal group, revealed during the "Calciopoli" scandal that shook Italy in 2006.
However, it is likely that the 74-year-old Italian, using appeals, will never actually end up in prison.
Earlier, a three-year prison sentence was imposed on another Juventus board member, Antonio Giraudo. He has already filed an appeal.
"I will not speak, I will truly not comment anything," Moggi, who denied his guilt, said as he left the court.
He was accused of creating a network of contacts with Giraudo, through which they influenced federation officials who appointed referees for top league matches. Additionally, referees were instructed on which players should receive yellow cards before matches against Juventus.
In 2005 and 2006, the Turin club lost the Italian champion titles they had won and were relegated to the second tier of Italian football. "Milan," Rome's "Lazio," and "Fiorentina" also received penalties.
The 2006 trophies were awarded to Milan's "Inter," but Juventus is seeking to overturn this decision as phone call logs allegedly prove the involvement of this team in criminal activities. In the near future, they intend to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Also sentenced were Paolo Bergamo, responsible for appointing referees to matches (3 years and 8 months), his colleague Pierluigi Pairetto (1 year and 4 months), Italian Football Federation vice president Innocenzo Mazzini (2 years and 4 months), former referee Massimo De Santis (1 year and 11 months), "Fiorentina" owners Andrea and Diego della Valle, Rome's "Lazio" president Claudio Lotito (all 1 year and 3 months), and one of Milan's managers Leonardo Meani (1 year).
In total, 16 individuals were found guilty, while eight were acquitted.
Moggi leaves the courtroom:"
