JUVENTUS COACH Antonio Conte was banned for 10 months yesterday over a match-fixing scandal, plunging the Serie A champions into a fresh crisis only months after they had finally recovered from a similar affair in 2006.
Italy and Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, who had faced a possible three-and-a-half-year ban, was, however, acquitted by an Italian football federation tribunal along with team-mate Simone Pepe.
Conte, who led an undefeated Juventus to the Italian title in his first season in charge last term, was accused of failing to report incidents of match-fixing in two games in the 2010-11 season when he was the coach of then Serie B side Siena.
His assistant at Siena and Juventus, Angelo Alessio, was banned for eight months.
Juventus said Conte, who will now have to sit out today’s Italian Super Cup match with Napoli in Beijing, would appeal and sporting director Beppe Marotta said he had not even considered replacing the former midfielder as coach.
West Ham today completed the signing of France midfielder Alou Diarra from Marseille. The Hammers confirmed the arrival of the 31-year-old on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
Reports suggest West Ham paid around €2.5 million for Diarra, something that would represent a coup for the club ahead of their return to the Premier League.
Craig Bellamy has rejoined home-town club Cardiff, signing a two-year contract with the Welsh club. Striker Bellamy scored 11 goals in 36 appearances during a season-long loan at Cardiff from Manchester City in 2010-11, helping City reach the Championship play-off semi-finals where they lost out to Reading.
Bellamy returned to Liverpool last season but made no secret of his desire to be closer to his family as he approaches the end of his career, and Cardiff confirmed the news of his return this afternoon on their official website.
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Swansea midfielder Joe Allen. The midfielder was at Anfield to watch the club’s 3-0 Europa League third qualifying round second leg win over FC Gomel.
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku yesterday completed a season-long loan move to West Brom. The 19-year-old Belgian had been linked with other clubs including Fulham.
Champions League and Europa League Draws (Selected pairings)
Champions League Play-off Draw
Helsingborgs v Celtic
Spartak Moscow v Fenerbahce
(First legs Aug 21st/22nd,
with the returns a week later)
Europa League Play-off Draw
Atromitos FC (Greece) v Newcastle Utd
FC Vaslui (Romania) v Inter Milan
Hearts v Liverpool
Motherwell v Levante
Lazio v ND Mura 05 (Slovenia)
(Ties to be played Aug 23rd 30th)
