Inter Milan was officially awarded the 2005-06 Italian league title on Wednesday, the Italian soccer federation said after both Juventus and AC Milan were deducted points for their involvement in a
match-fixing scandal. Inter finished third last season, 15 points behind Juventus, which won the title with a record-breaking 91 points. This is Inter's first title since 1989. Massimo Moratti, the
oil tycoon who owns the club, says he was happy to accept the title on behalf of a "team that behaved correctly." Inter coach Roberto Mancini said, "It's strange to win like this, but we played fair."
The Milan club have a very good chance of repeating the feat next year, as Juventus has been relegated to Serie B, and bitter rival AC Milan will start the next campaign on minus 8 points. Juventus
was also stripped of its 2004-05 league title but no replacement winner was named for that year. Of the four implicated clubs, Juventus was the only one to be relegated. It was also deducted 17
points. Fiorentina will start the year in Serie A at minus 19 points, Lazio minus 11, and Milan minus 8. Both Juventus and Milan are said to be readying further appeals.
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