Lazio handed €40,000 fine despite FIGC prosecutor’s request for greater punishment.
Lazio midfielder Stefano Mauri has been handed a six month ban for his part in a betting scandal relating back to 2011.
The club captain had been placed under investigation after claims were made of wrongdoing following the Lazio-Genoa game on May 14, 2011, and Lecce-Lazio on May 22, 2011.
FIGC prosecutor Stefano Palazzi had initially requested the former Italian international to be banned for up to four years and six months, while wanting to hand Lazio a points deduction and disqualification from European competition.
However, that has not been ruled by the Italian Football Federation, with Mauri instead picking up the shortened six month ban while Lazio receive a fine of €40,000 as reported by Football Italia.
The Biancocelesti aren’t the only club to be implicated in the proceedings, with both Genoa and Lecce also receiving financial punishments, being fined €20,000 and €53,000 respectively.
In addition, there were further bans handed out to individual players, with Stefano Ferrario given a six-month suspension, Carlo Gervasoni two months, Mario Cassano four months and Alessandro Zamperini suspended for a further two years.
The capital club are expected to appeal the decision, but will be relieved that the requested punishments were not upheld by the Italian Football Federation.
The 33-year-old club captain has pleaded his innocence throughout the case, but having been ruled of wrongdoing he will now be forced to sit out the beginning of the new season, pending an appeal.
While the outcome of the investigation is likely to portray Italian football in a negative light, the FIGC and the relevant federations will be enthused by their continued successful efforts to crack down on match-fixing and betting scandals.
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