Vieri awarded damages in spy case

ROME (AP)

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Inter Milan and Telecom Italia have reportedly been ordered to pay Christian Vieri €1 million ($1.26 million) in damages for spying on the player through phone taps.

The ANSA news agency and the Gazzetta dello Sport report that a Milan court made the decision Monday.

Vieri filed a lawsuit against his former club and Telecom for a combined €21 million ($26 million) in damages five years ago, after word leaked that they had spied on him to monitor his life off-the-pitch.

Vieri said that when details of the alleged spying became public in 2006, it damaged his playing career by causing him undue stress.

"Vieri filed a lawsuit against his former club and Telecom Italia for a combined €21 million in damages five years ago, after word leaked that they had spied on him to monitor his life off the pitch," the AP says.

"Vieri said that when details of the alleged spying became public in 2006, it damaged his playing career by causing him undue stress."

Vieri, who is now retired, played for Inter from 1999 to 2005.