Juve coach facing 15-month ban in fixing scandal

ROME (AP)

Juventus coach Antonio Conte is facing a 15-month ban after being denied a plea bargain for his involvement in an Italian match-fixing scandal.

Conte's offer of a three-month ban was rejected by an Italian football federation (FIGC) tribunal on Wednesday, and he was told on Thursday that the court will not accept any plea bargain.

Conte, who led Juventus to the Serie A title last season, is accused of failing to report match-fixing in two games during the 2010-11 season when he was coach of then-Serie B team Siena.

Prosecutor Stefano Palazzi is asking for a 15-month ban for the Juve coach.

''I see that the FIGC and its justice system continue to operate outside of any logic,'' Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said in a statement immediately afterwards. ''The various sentences show enormous contradictions...this can't be accepted.''

The FIGC reacted angrily to the remarks, saying ''Andrea Agnelli's comments are unacceptable and go beyond legitimate right to criticism.''

It added that ''the FIGC and its bodies work with fairness and in full respect of the statutory rules which guarantee the Sporting Justice independence and autonomy.''

In contrast to Conte's possible suspension, Siena goalkeeping coach Marco Savaroni and fitness coach Giorgio D'Urbano will serve 23-week bans.

At club level, promoted Torino will start its first season back in Serie A with a one-point penalty, while Varese was deducted one point in Serie B. Siena will start the upcoming Serie A season with a six-point penalty after its second plea bargain was accepted on Wednesday.