Juventus clinch title

JUVENTUS WERE crowned Italian champions amidst scenes of utter chaos in Bergamo last night, when the visitors drew 1-1 with Atalanta after a massive pitch invasion.

As the match drew to an end, hundreds of fans swamped the pitch while players tried desperately to flee to the dressing rooms. Nearly 50 riot police waited nearly 10 minutes before intervening. Then two charges from them, at intervals, was eventually enough to restore order.

The match finally restarted after a quarter of an hour of pandemonium, but neither side had any heart left for football. And when the final whistle went after only a couple of minutes' play there was a fresh invasion, as police lined up at one end.

When the chaos was finally over, Juventus were left with an unassailable seven point lead at the top of the Serie A over second placed Parma, who have two matches left to play.

It was the 24th league title of the club's history and the victory comes just days before they defend the European Cup in next Wednesday's final against Borussia Dortmund.

For once, Juventus were more into the business of stopping goals than scoring them. Filippo Inzaghi, the Serie A's top marksman, fired home his 22nd of the season to give Atalanta a shock 20th minute lead, but Mark Iuliano headed in the vital 54th minute equaliser.

Meanwhile, as expected, Roy Hodgson has resigned as coach of Inter Milan. Hodgson, who agreed in February to coach Blackburn Rovers next season, felt he could not see out Inter's last two matches before the season ends on June 1st, despite a place in the Champions' League being at stake.On another front, Faustino Asprilla was praying last night that his latest indiscretion would not cost him his job at Newcastle. But the signs are the club wilt stand by the volatile Colombian despite his being accused of a dust up with a policeman in his home town of Tulua.

Newcastle were "quite relaxed" yesterday over allegations that their South American striker had attacked an officer while being ejected from a concert.