Atalanta, newly promoted into Serie A, may now face an even greater battle to stay out of the relegation zone: The FIGC have handed down a seven-point deduction for their role in the latest Italian match-fixing scandal. Eighteen clubs have been implicated in the mess, from across the divisions. Chievo Verona, who had a minor role, are the only other Serie A side to face sanctions, but no points will be knocked from the Flying Donkeys. Instead, they will pay a €80,000 fine, while their city rivals, Hellas Verona, in Serie B, will pay €50,000. The worst punishment may be handed to Ravenna, who could see expulsion from the league.
La Dea already have a bit of a yo-yo problem, so this point deduction just might be more than they can bear. Plus, they'll likely lose their captain, Cristiano Doni, to a three and a half year suspension, due to his role in the scandal. Atalanta might try crossing their fingers and hoping for a Sampdoria-esqe implosion from one of the Serie A stalwarts -- or hope that further investigations turn up dirt on someone else.