Italy coach Conte to stand trial on alleged match-fixing charges

Italy coach Antonio Conte has been ordered to stand trial after being accused of sporting fraud in relation to an investigation into match-fixing.

The 45-year-old served a four-month suspension in 2012 for allegedly failing to report attempts to fix two games during his time in charge of Siena.

The Court of Cremona has now requested that Conte and 103 other people must stand trial over the alleged match-fixing.

The news has not come as a surprise, with speculation rife in Italy for some time that the former Juventus boss might stand down as Azzurri boss in order to focus on clearing his name.

However, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio stated in June that there is no chance of Conte quitting his post before his contract expires after Euro 2016.

"Carlo will stay," he stated. "We have certain guarantees for people in this country and they apply to Conte too - an indictment is not a conviction."

Conte spent a solitary season at Siena, leading the club to promotion at the end of the 2010-11 campaign before taking charge of Juventus, whom he represented as a player.

The former midfield ace sparked a remarkable revival in Turin, leading Juve to three consecutive Serie A titles before resigning last summer following a dispute over the club's transfer strategy.

Conte promptly took charge of Italy, who are on course to qualify for Euro 2016 as they currently sit second in the group, just two points behind leaders Croatia.

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