Italy national team coach Antonio Conte was acquitted on charges of match-fixing by an accelerated preliminary hearing judge in a court in the city of Cremona.
The case stems from whenConte, who will take charge at Chelsea after Euro 2016, was in charge of Siena in Italy’s Serie B in May 2011. He had been banned for four months during his second season in charge of Juve.
TheCremona case was to determine if there were any grounds for civil proceedings against Conte.
“Four years ago, a search of my house at 5 a.m. ushered in a nightmare period that at times Ifelt would go on forever,” Conte wrote on his Facebook page. “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 theshameful world of match-fixing. Today finally draws a line under this ugly story. I thank my family and the many people who never believed even for a moment the words which presented a false image ofmy lifestyle. As I have already said to those who were trying to judge me, I am a sportsman and I know no other way to achieve success than through sacrifice and total dedication. It was a terribleexperience and I have faced it head on. This is demonstrated by the fact that I decided to take part in the process, as I have always done in life, rather than looking for loopholes. To all those whonever 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.”