Turin, Italy – Juventus coach Antonio Conte was suspended 10 months over a match-fixing scandal on Friday, but players Leonardo Bonucci and Simone Pepe were cleared.
Conte faced a 15-month suspension, but 10 months will still cost the coach the upcoming season with Juventus. He led Juventus to an undefeated record in his first season in charge and a Serie A title.
He was suspended for failing to report match-fixing in two games while at then Serie-B side Siena in 2010-11 while he was coach.
Juventus plans to appeal the suspension for Conte and assistant Angelo Alessio - who was suspended eight months by the Italian Football Federation.
"Juventus expresses great satisfaction for the absolution of its players Leonardo Bonucci and Simone Pepe and underlines its full support for Antonio Conte and Angelo Alessio, in the hope that the next level of the justice system can at last show they are completely innocent," the club announced in a statement.
Bonucci faced the stiffest punishment of 42 months, and Pepe faced a 12-month ban for their alleged roles in match-fixing at Bari and Udinese, respectively.
Udinese avoided any punishment and Bologna was fined just under $40,000, while former Bologna captain Marco Di Vaio, now with the Montreal Impact in MLS, was also cleared of charges.
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