Four Italian Teams Ordered to Stand Trial

Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina were ordered to stand trial in a sports court and face possible demotion from Serie A.

The scandal, the largest in Italian soccer history, involves allegations of match-fixing, illegal betting and manipulation of referee assignments.

Federation spokesman Alessandro Salerno said Thursday that 26 people -- but no players -- were also ordered to stand trial. No names were given, but officials of Juventus, the team most implicated, and other soccer officials reportedly make up that group.

The trial begins Wednesday at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. It is expected to center on match-fixing allegations.

The announcement by Italian federation prosecutor Stefano Palazzi came as Italy was celebrating its team’s 2-0 World Cup win over the Czech Republic to top Group E and advance to the final 16.

The decision was announced after the close of trading at the Milan stock exchange at the request of stock market regulator Consob, because some of the teams involved in the scandal are listed on the exchange.

Juventus, the Turin-based powerhouse, has been investigated for sporting fraud on charges that it tried to manipulate Serie A by hand-picking referees.

Juventus, which won Serie A the last two seasons, risks being stripped of its titles and faces possible relegation -- perhaps even to the third division.

Milan, owned by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, also faces possible demotion to Serie B, along with Lazio and Fiorentina.