Juve coach facing 15-month ban in fixing scandal

Associated Press
Juventus Turin coach Antonio Conte gesticulates during a test match between Italian Champion Juventus Turin and German second division soccer club of Hertha BSC Berlin in Berlin, Saturday July 28, 2012. (AP Photo/dapd/ Oliver Lang)

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 soccer federation (FIGC) tribunal Wednesday, and he was told 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.

Siena goalkeeping coach Marco Savaroni and fitness coach Giorgio D'Urbano will serve 23-week bans.

Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said in a statement that "The various sentences show enormous contradictions...this can't be accepted."