World Cup on Sunday, Unemployed on Monday?

A court ruling on the biggest match-fixing scandal to hit Italian soccer could serve as a rude awakening to fans of the Azzurri on Monday. After being allowed to dream of World Cup grandeur for four weeks, Italy is on the verge of seeing the very foundation of its soccer world turned upside down, when four of the country's top clubs face near certain relegation.

And for several of the national players, the expected court decision means an uncertain future when they return home.

Scandal hits hard

At an Italian soccer federation tribunal in Rome last week, prosecutor Stefano Palazzi requested top-ranked Juventus Turin be dropped to the third division and that AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina be relegated to the second division. If the court upholds the recommendation, several of Italy's national team players will be affected – and possibly out of a job after the World Cup tournament.

Twenty-five individuals, including club directors, referees and high-ranked Italian soccer federation officials, are suspected of influencing the outcome of matches in the 2004/05 season. On July 4, Juventus coach Fabio Capello stepped down from his position after testifying at a hearing. Further repercussions are expected following the ruling.

Stars look for new jobs

For the club players, the relegation from Serie A to lower divisions means their meal-ticket could be slashed. Even if out-right cuts aren't planned, Juventus and the other clubs are unlikely to be able to hold onto their top stars if stripped of its last two league titles, relegated and consequently denied entry into the highly lucrative Champions League.

Five of the Turin players on the Italian national quad, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta, Alessandro Del Piero and Mauto Camoranesi, could be out on the transfer market looking for another employer as early as next week. Players of their caliber will not be happy slumming it in the lower leagues, while the potential loss of television money and sponsorship inevitably forces Juventus to reduce their wages.

And when the other three clubs accused of match-fixing are included in the picture, the exodus is even greater: Alessandro Nesta, Angelo Peruzzi, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Luca Toni.

International scandal

The scandal surrounding Juventus has also affected Italy's World Cup opponent, France. Three of the top players for Les Bleus could find themselves contemplating their future: Patrick Vieira, David Trezeguet and Lilian Thuram.

In total the scandal has left its mark on 29 World Cup participants, including Brazil's Dida, Cafú, Emerson and Kaká, the Czech Pavel Nedved, Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Croatia's Robert Kovac and Switzerland's Johann Vogel.

Spain is address of choice

According to Spanish newspaper reports, Fabio Capello, who quit Juventus to become coach of Spanish giants Real Madrid, is set to raid his former club for Cannavaro and Zambrotta. Spanish sports daily Marca claim Capello has already opened negotiations to snap up the two defenders for a cost of 15 million euros (19 million dollars).

Marca also claim European champions Barcelona is eyeing Thuram, who proved himself indispensable for France's defense at the World Cup.

Regarded as the best keeper in the world, Italy's Buffon initially vowed to stay loyal to Juventus no matter what comes: "I will stay true to Juve, even if it drops down to Serie C," he said last week. But the two-time World Cup goalie, who has no shortage of admirers and is certain to be hotly contended, revised his statement a few days later. "In the end it will probably be my ego that decides," he acknowleged.