Italian judge urges caution

Appeals court judge Piero Sandulli defended the verdicts in the Italian match-fixing case which have seen Fiorentina and Lazio reinstated to Serie A and Juventus have their points penalty reduced to the extent that they can realistically aspire to promotion back to Serie A at the first time of asking.

Juventus remain in Serie B but have had their 30-point deduction trimmed to 17 points which gives them a chance of regaining top-flight status under new coach Didier Deschamps next season.