Incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says he feels
"stronger" after being cleared of any wrongdoing in a match-fixing
scandal from 2011.The 46-year-old, who will lead
Italy at Euro 2016 next month before joining Chelsea, was accused of doing
nothing to halt a scandal while boss of Siena. But a judge in Cremona acquitted
Conte because the accusations were baseless. "Today finally draws a line
under this ugly story," said Conte in a statement on his official Facebook page. "Four years ago, a search of
my house at 5am ushered in a nightmare period that at times I felt would go on
forever. "Those who stood by me, and
who know me best, know how much I have struggled with the idea that my name
might be associated with the shameful world of match-fixing."In August 2012, while coach of
Juventus, the former Italy international wasbanned for 10 months for
not reporting alleged match-fixing in two games involving Siena in the 2010-11
season.This was later reduced to four months by
an Italian sports tribunal and Conte became coach of his national team in
August 2014."I thank my family and the
many people who never believed even for a moment the words which presented a
false image of my lifestyle," he added."I am a sportsman and I know
no other way to achieve success than through sacrifice and total dedication. It
was a terrible experience and I have faced it head on.
"To all those who never
doubted my honesty, I want to express my gratitude, and reassure them that I
have emerged from this testing time as a stronger and more highly motivated
person."
Source: BBC News
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