The Italian Football Federation has handed down disciplinary actions against 21 clubs and 52 individual members in "first-instance proceedings regarding the match-rigging scandal," according to CORRIERE. AlbinoLeffe FC will start with a 15-point penalty in the '12-13 Lega Pro Championship and face a €90,000 ($114,000) fine. Players Mario Cassano, Luigi Sartor, Alessandro Zamperini and Nicola Santoni have been disqualified for five years (CORRIERE.it, 6/19). Meanwhile, FOOTBALL ITALIA reported that newly-promoted Pescara FC will start Serie A with a two-point penalty after they were among the clubs handed penalties as part of "the first wave of match-fixing betting verdicts." Novara FC, relegated from the top Division, will begin Serie B with a four-point penalty. Remaining in the Second Division, Reggina FC has been docked four points and Padova FC two points. Empoli FC was handed a one-point penalty (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 6/18). Pescara President Daniele Sebastiani said that the club "would fight the decision of the federation to uphold a prosecutor's charge." Sebastiani said, "We didn't expect this decision, rather we expected to be acquitted. We have absolutely nothing to do with any of this, and we will go, if we need to, all the way to CONI [The Italian Olympic Committee]" (REUTERS, 6/19).
