Italy prosecutor poised to issue charges in scandal

ROME, June 22 (Reuters) Italy's soccer prosecutor will announce today which Serie A clubs and officials must stand trial for match-fixing in the country's biggest sports scandal in a quarter of a century.

Champions Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina -- among the football elite in soccer-mad Italy -- risk being charged by Football Federation (FIGC) prosecutor Stefano Palazzi and possible relegation if found guilty.

Any clubs and football officials who are indicted will stand trial before a sports tribunal starting next week in Rome's Olympic Stadium. The FIGC has promised to wrap up the trial by July 9 -- the date of the World Cup final.

In a reminder of how the affair bridges Italy's favourite sport and finance, the prosecutor will announce any indictments after the Milan stock exchange closes at 5:30 p.m. (1530 GMT) to prevent disorderly trading in shares of Juventus and Lazio .

Since the scandal broke in early May, Juventus shares have lost half their value and were trading at 1.23 euros today.

Palazzi is also expected to wait until a World Cup match between Italy and the Czech Republic ends shortly before 6 pm (1600 GMT).

The scandal erupted last month when newspapers published intercepted telephone conversations between Juventus' former general manager, Luciano Moggi, and senior FIGC officials discussing refereeing appointments during the 2004/05 season.

'NOT AT ALL SCARED' A report by the football federation's investigator is reported to have aimed the heaviest criticism at Juventus, nicknamed the Old Lady and champions 29 times.

Newspapers speculated the club could be demoted to Serie C1 -- Italy's third division -- and be stripped of the Serie A titles they won in the last two seasons.

Milan also risk sanctions after the publication of phone taps in which Leonardo Meani, a member of the club's management, spoke to the official assigning match officials in April 2005 complaining about a linesman after Milan lost to Siena.

Milan's president, former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, said his team was innocent and deserved to inherit the last two Serie A titles by virtue of finishing runner-up to Juventus.

''Milan has been defrauded,'' Berlusconi said on Wednesday.

''When the team that finished first cheats, it's only fair that the second-place side wins. And I'm not at all scared.'' Palazzi was expected to issue indictments for ''sporting fraud'' and ''violation of fairness and probity''.

A team convicted of sporting fraud risks sanctions ranging from having points deducted next season to relegation to a lower division and loss of titles.

The second charge can lead to warnings or fines as well as points deducted, relegation and loss of titles. Individuals risk being banned from the sport.

Any club or individual who is convicted can ask for an appeals trial which the FIGC has promised will end by July 27, in time for the FIGC to tell UEFA which teams will compete in next season's Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions.

In the previous major scandal to hit Italian soccer, AC Milan and Lazio were relegated for match-fixing in 1980 and several players were banned.

Doping scandals have regularly hit the Giro d'Italia cycling race but none have had the sweep of the current imbroglio.

REUTERS DH RK1700