Juventus to appeal 10-month ban of Antonio Conte

By Ameenu Shardow

Juventus will keep faith with manager Antonio Conte despite being slapped with a 10-month ban in a match-fixing scandal.

There were fears the 43-year-old will be shown the exit or be forced to resign following the ban which will leave the Old Lady opening Serie-A defence technically handicapped.

This could have had an adverse effect on Ghanaian duo Kwadwo Asamoah and Richmond Boakye-Yiadom as Conte was the one who bought them this summer.

They risked getting sidelined in the event a new manager is brought in as he will quite expectedly come in with his own philosophy and personnel to execute it.

But the Bianconeri have decided to stick with their man during this time of crisis and say they will be mounting a staunch appeal to the ruling.

“We’ve never thought about a change, just as Antonio has never considered resigning,” Juventus Director Giuseppe Marotta told the club’s official website.

“He’s in charge of a group that’s recognized him as a leader, but there are great champions at Juventus and we’re convinced they’ll manage to compensate for his absence.

“We’re convinced of his non-involvement in the events that are being contested, also in light of the legal proceedings and the professionalism he’s always displayed.

“There are a further two steps of appeal, we’re already working on them and hope his innocence will subsequently emerge.”

Massimo Carrera has been handed interim charge of the team while Conte and his assistant battle their way through the appeal.

In other verdicts from Friday’s FIGC rulings, Udinese has been fully cleared while fellow Serie A club Bologna has been fined 30,000 Euros.

Lecce and Grosseto have been demoted from Serie B and will start next season in Lega Pro, the third tier of Italian football. Novara has been deducted two points. Appeals against all rulings are set to be heard on August 20.