Prodi says guilty must pay in Italy scandal

ROME, July 14 (Reuters) Prime Minister Romano Prodi said today that those who made mistakes in Italy's match-fixing scandal should pay the price and that Italy's World Cup win should not influence judges.

''If the clubs and some men running the clubs made mistakes and if they were guilty they have to pay, even if we are world champions,'' he told Reuters in wide-ranging interview.

Prodi spoke as four top Italian soccer clubs and 25 officials are bracing themselves for the verdicts in the Serie A match-fixing trial, which are due on Friday night.

Italy's World Cup triumph in Germany has prompted calls for a general amnesty, but Prodi said he did not agree.

''If you confuse the two sides you don't give the example that must be given. If it is demonstrated that there was some cheating (they must pay),'' he said.

''You know how important football is for young people and for the deep morality of the country because it is so popular. If you give the message that there is no problem because we won (the cup), I don't think it is justified.'' Champions Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio, and 25 individuals -- including club and federation officials, referees and linesmen -- are accused of conspiring to rig matches in the top Serie A division during the 2004-05 season.

Prodi said a just but exemplary sentence would help improve the country's image ''The process of improving the image of a country (includes) giving the message that justice is done. If they are innocent, fine. If they are guilty, sorry,'' he said.

Asked if he thought it was fair that great players who helped Italy win the World Cup may be the ones to suffer if their teams are relegated, he joked: ''They are great players and they will find a place (to play). They won't stay unemployed. You can't mix up the two things.'' Juventus are widely considered to be at the centre of the scandal, which erupted in May when phone taps revealed the club's former general manager Luciano Moggi discussing refereeing appointments with officials from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

If found guilty Juventus risk relegation to Italy's third division or lower and being stripped of the Serie A titles they won in the past two seasons.

AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio face possible relegation to the second-tier Serie B. Individuals risk bans from the sport.

All those found guilty can appeal, but the appeals process must be complete by July 25 -- the deadline set by UEFA for the FIGC to submit the list of teams for next season's Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions.

REUTERS AY HS2123