Atalanta Start Season With Seven Point Deduction

Atalanta felt the full brunt of the punishment for match-fixing as they start the new season with a seven point deficit.

Newly promoted Atalanta and Serie A side Chievo Verona were only two of the clubs clited last month for suspected match fixing. They were given these punishments on Wednesday in Rome at a hearing before the Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC)

According to Reuters, last season’s Serie B game between Atalanta and Piacenza came under scrutiny following reports of irregular betting patterns. This has resulted in Atalanta’s veteran captain Cristiano Doni being handed a three-and-a-half-year ban, while team-mate Thomas Manfredini received a three-year ban.

The other team Chievo attempted to enter into a plea bargain and were fined $113.388. Problems occured for them when Stefano Bettarini was charged with influencing the outcome of the matches which led to him being banned for 14 months.

Other lower league teams have been apprehended but yet to be announced by the FIGC. The scandal’s have been investigated from November and has resulted in 18 matches been analyzed and leading to 16 arrests.