Controversy shadows Serie A kick-off

Despite the national team’s stellar performance at Euro 2012, a cloud hangs over Italy’s domestic game as the 2012-13 Serie A season gets underway this weekend. Italy’s run to the European Championship final, even if it did end in a 4-0 defeat to Spain, should have galvanised the game on the peninsula. Then there is the latest match-fixing scandal to hit the Italian game. As part of the ‘Last Bet’ or ‘calcioscommesse’ affair, Atalanta and Siena will both start the season with points deductions, as will promoted duo Sampdoria and Torino. Of the many individuals punished for their involvement in the scandal, the most notable is Juventus coach Antonio Conte. The man who led Juve to last season’s title without losing a game has been banned for 10 months.