Betting scandal costs Atalanta six points

Atalanta will start the Serie A season with a six point penalty deduction for their role in a betting scandal.

Last week the federal prosecutor Stefano Palazzi advised the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) over the punishment which should be handed out based on the alleged involvement of those implicated in the scandal.

And the FIGC has now returned their verdicts, with Atalanta deducted six points and captain Cristiano Doni banned from football for three-and-a-half years.

Doni’s team-mate Thomas Manfredini has also been banned for three years.

The sanctions all relate to a criminal case brought forward by prosecutors at the tribunal of Cremona who uncovered an illegal betting ring involving a number of footballers and officials back in June known as ‘Last Bet’.

Former Italy international Giuseppe Signori has been banned for five years, and once this ends he will be excluded from holding any football-related role for life.

Atalanta, Doni, Manfredini and Signori have always denied any wrongdoing despite the sentences handed out by the FIGC.

It is a shocking start to the season for the club, who were only promoted to the top flight this term after winning the second-tier Serie B last campaign.