ROME, June 9 - The man at the centre of Italy's
soccer scandal has turned down a call from football authorities
to answer questions over alleged match-fixing, his lawyer and
the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on Friday.
Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi, whose tapped
phone conversations about referee appointments triggered a string
of investigations last month, was due to be questioned on Monday
by Francesco Borrelli, an ex-judge leading the FIGC probe.
But in a statement sent to the Federation, Moggi's lawyer
Fulvio Gianaria said his client no longer played any part in the
world of football and would not appear for questioning.
"Following the call for Luciano Moggi to appear before the
Football Federation investigation, we point out that, in light
of his resignation, he is outside the world of football," the
statement said.
"For these reasons he will not be present at the hearings
currently under way."
Moggi, who had worked as Juve's general manager since 1994,
quit on May 14 after the team beat Reggina to secure their 29th
Serie A title. "The world of football is no longer my world," he
told reporters after the match.
The biggest scandal to hit Italian football in more than 20
years has led to four magistrates' investigations and the FIGC
probe.
Juventus's board has resigned as has Franco Carraro from the
FIGC presidency. Public prosecutors have placed 41 people,
including referees and FIGC officials, under investigation for
criminal association and sporting fraud.
The Federation is expected to finish its investigation later
this month. It will then pass on its findings and recommend
sanctions to the disciplinary committee of the Italian Football
League.
Juventus could be stripped of their titles and face
relegation to Serie B if their officials are found guilty of
attempting to influence the outcome of matches.