Italians Win the World Cup, Then Scatter Like Roaches in Sun Light...

I know this has little to do with American Soccer and the youth ranks. However, on of the best parts of the beautiful game is the worldwide nature. If MLS is boring you, look abroad and learn more about the history of the sport. I include this because it is the result of one of the worst match fixing scandals of all time. Will there ever be another time when four clubs are penalized for agregous violations like this? Add to it the fact that these are the biggest names in Italian, European and World Football. Juventus won the championship last season and was bound for the Champions League. They're down to the second division and stripped of their previous two championships and they start the season with -30 points. Fiorentina was qualified for the Champions League because of their top four finish. They're down to the second division. Lazio was going to play in the UEFA Cup because of their sixth place finish. They're down to the second division. AC Milan was headed to the Champions League, they don't get to participate this season after almost winning two years ago. They start the season with -15 points so it will be tough to get back to the Champions League.

Whoop there it is. The Italian court has decided that the 4 Italian clubs were guilty of match fixing. Three clubs go to Serie B and one stays in A but looses 15 points before the season starts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/5164194.stm

To make things worse all teams are bared from playing in any 2006/07 European competitions.

Juve was stripped of their past two Serie A championships and will start the season with -30 points. Many think it will be impossible for the club to gain promotion back to Serie A next year because of the deficit.

Lazio were penalized seven league points while Fiorentina suffered a 12-point penalty.

There is little doubt the clubs will appeal the decision within the three day limited appeal window.

An amazing turn of events in Italian football within a week of winning the World Cup. What Italian and foreign superstars will probably be changing clubs?
Try the following on for size:
Gianluigi Buffon - World Cup winning keeper
Lilian Thuram
Fabio Cannavaro - World Cup captain
Patrick Vieira
Pavel Nedved
Fereira da Rosa Emerson
Mauro German Camoranesi
Gianluca Zambrotta
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Alessandro Del Piero
David Trezeguet
Adrian Mutu
Marcelo Zalayeta
Sebastian Frey
Luca Toni
Valeri Bojinov
Stefano Fiore
Simone Inzaghi
Paolo Di Canio

Lucky AC Milan should stay intact as they're not getting relegated, just handicapped for the start of the season.

Italy can't go a few years without having this kind of scandal. Who knows what'll be next!