Juve player Pessotto seriously ill after fall

TURIN, June 27 (Reuters) Former Juventus player Gianluca Pessotto was in a serious condition in hospital today after falling from a window at the club headquarters in what an investigative source said was a probable suicide attempt.

The 35-year-old former defender, now the club's team manager, suffered multiple fractures and internal bleeding but was in a stable condition, the hospital said.

Pessotto, who is now team manager, was found clutching a rosary having fallen some 15 metres from a dormer window in the building's roof, police sources said.

''In all probability it was a voluntary action by Pessotto,'' said an investigative source who asked not to be identified, noting that there was limited access to the dormer window.

A Turin hospital official speaking on Sky Italia television said police were investigating a suicide attempt.

Another investigative source told Reuters that Pessotto apparently was being treated by a doctor for depression.

''His depression seems to have been linked to personal problems,'' ANSA news agency reported, citing investigative sources.

Italy players Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluca Zambrotta left the team's World Cup camp in Germany to visit Pessotto.

Juventus is at the centre of a match-fixing scandal that has rocked Italian soccer.

Pessotto, who has been with Juventus for 11 years, is not among those facing charges at a sports tribunal due to start on Thursday.

He took the post of team manager late last month after the scandal erupted.

The scandal began in early May with the publication of intercepted telephone conversations between former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi and Italian Football Federation officials discussing refereeing appointments during the 2004-05 season.

Pessotto, who made 22 appearances for Italy, was a regular starter during one of the most successful periods in Juventus's history, winning six Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League.

Italy captain and Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro walked out of a news conference at the Italian team's World Cup training camp when he heard about Pessotto's fall.

''I'm devastated. Pessotto was the nicest guy in the world,'' he was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

Former Juventus player Ciro Ferrara, a member of Italy's coaching staff, was to join Del Piero and Zambrotta on a private flight which would bring them back to Germany later this evening, Italian Football Federation press officer Barbara Moschini said.

Italy play Ukraine in the quarter-finals on Friday.

REUTERS HS KN2351