Reggina expect reduction

Reggina hope to see their Calciopoli penalty reduced, as the Italian Olympic Committee’s (CONI) Court of Arbitration is expected to hand out its verdict on Tuesday.

The Amaranto were punished by the Federal Court sporting tribunal in July for their involvement in the summer match-fixing scandal and were handed a 15-point deduction, along with a two and a half year ban for President Lillo Foti.

The minnows had already discussed their position in front of the FIGC in mid-October, but the conciliation meeting failed and the club decided to present its request to the CONI Court of Arbitration.

Pundits have predicted that Reggina might be granted a four-point discount, which would allow them to move to nine points on the table to escape from last place, and the verdict is expected to be released on Tuesday evening.

Foti’s hopes were further increased by Monday’s Court of Arbitration’s decision to slash the ban inflicted to Lazio chief Claudio Lotito, whose 30-month suspension was cut to just four months, already expired.

The other clubs involved in the first wave of trials – Juventus, Fiorentina, Lazio and Milan – had already gone through the legal process and the Court of Arbitration granted reductions to all of them, except Milan.

The CONI Court will also examine Arezzo’s appeal, after the initial nine-point penalty for the 2006-07 Serie B campaign was cut to just six during conciliation. Rumours suggest the deduction will be brought down to only three points.