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ITALY'S football heavyweights, AC Milan, champion Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina have been charged over alleged match-fixing.

Italian football federation prosecutor Stefano Palazzi decided overnight that the Serie A giants would go on trial here, from next Tuesday or Wednesday, on charges of sporting fraud.

"Stefano Palazzi has named 30 people or clubs, including Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina for violations of articles one and/or six of the sporting code of ethics," the federation (FIGC) announced in a statement.

An investigation was launched following the publication last month of telephone conversations in which the then Juventus general manager, Luciano Moggi, was heard telling Pierluigi Pairetto, the head of the Italian referees' association, which match officials he wanted assigned to certain league and European games.

The FIGC statement did not give the names of any of the individuals charged, but Italian football league president Adriano Galliani resigned overnight while denying any wrongdoing.

"I have decided to resign from my position as president of the Italian football league, but I wish to make it clear that this is can not in any way be interepreted as an admission of responsibility," said AC Milan vice-president Galliani.

"The charges against me are an injustice and I reiterate that I am a total stranger to this affair," he added.

All four teams could be relegated to the second division if found to be directly guilty of fraud.

If the fraud is deemed indirect they face having points deducted ahead of next season's league campaign.

Palazzi took just three days to act after receiving a 180-page document from the investigating anti-corruption judge, Francesco Saverio Borrelli, who spent two weeks interviewing players and officials.

A verdict is expected between July 7 and 9, the latter date being that of the World Cup final, in which Italy could be involved.

The announcement was made just minutes after Italy qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup, beating the Czech Republic 2-0 in Hamburg. Thirteen of the national squad play for the four clubs charged.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi said his team will not be affected by the revelations. "We are concentrating on the World Cup," he said after being asked by a foreign journalist if the scandal is impacting on the team.

"You foreign journalists seem to believe that all we are thinking about is the scandal.

The timetable for the legal action is tight.

In the case of appeals, a definitive decision should be known by July 20, according to the timetable set out by the FIGC, which has promised that the start of the 2006-07 season, scheduled for August 27, will not be delayed.

With Sampdoria also being investigated by prosecutors in Naples, a total of five Serie A teams, 41 people and 19 matches from last season have come under the spotlight.

Referees, match officials and players are all under scrutiny.

The scandal has wider implications than just relegation from Italy's top flight, as three of the four teams charged qualified for next season's Champions League while Lazio finished in a UEFA Cup spot.

All four clubs would be thrown out of European competition if found guilty. The Serie A giants will go on trial in Rome from next Tuesday or Wednesday on charges of sporting fraud.

"Stefano Palazzi has announced 30 people or clubs, including Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina for violations of articles one and/or six of the sporting code of ethics," the federation (FIGC) announced in a statement.

An investigation was started following last month's publication of telephone conversations in which the then Juventus general manager, Luciano Moggi, was heard telling Pierluigi Pairetto, head of the Italian referees' association, which match officials he wanted assigned to certain league and European games.

The FIGC statement did not give the names of any of the individuals charged, nor those of any other teams implicated.

It also did not specify if the four teams mentioned are being charged with direct or indirect sporting fraud.

In the case of a direct misdemeanour, all four could be relegated to the second division, if the tribunal follows the prosecutor's request.

But if the fraud is deemed indirect they face having points deducted ahead of next season's league campaign.

A verdict is expected between July 7 and 9, the latter date being that of the World Cup final, in which Italy could be involved.

The announcement was made just minutes after Italy qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup after beating the Czech Republic 2-0 in Hamburg.

Thirteen of the national squad play for the four clubs charged.

In the case of appeals, a definitive decision should be known by July 20, according to the timetable set out by the FIGC.