Juve coach unfazed by match-fixing allegation

Turin: Juventus coach Antonio Conte is unfazed by allegations from one of his former players that he knew about a match that was fixed while he managed Siena last season.

Local media reported on Saturday that the recently arrested player, Filippo Carobbio, told investigators that Conte was aware of a fix for the 2-2 draw between Novara and Siena in Serie B last May.

Even before being asked about the allegation, Conte opened his weekly pre-match press conference by addressing the matter.

"There's little to say. I'm serene and confident in the (investigators), who are doing their job," Conte said. "I haven't been summoned by anyone. Once I've been summoned by someone, I'll have the pleasure of responding."

Carobbio, who began this season with third-division Spezia, is one of the more than 30 people who have been arrested in Italy since last June in a massive probe into match-fixing. Others arrested include former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni and former Lazio captain Giuseppe Signori.

Conte guided Siena back into the top division last season, then joined Juventus, the club he played for as a stand-out midfielder.

Conte immediately found success with Juventus, who are undefeated in all competitions under him and hold a one-point lead over AC Milan with six rounds remaining in Serie A as they chase their first Scudetto since a 2006 demotion for match-fixing.

"If someone is thinking about destabilizing us, that's going to be tough," Conte said. "It will only increase our desire. We're going to triple our determination."

The Novara-Siena match took place with Siena already having clinched promotion, and the draw helped Novara also be promoted back into the top division for the first time in 55 years.

Anyone who knew about a fix — even if they weren't directly involved — and failed to report it risks a 12-month ban.

Conte is not under investigation but several Siena matches that took place during his reign are part of a wide-ranging probe across the leagues into Italy's latest soccer corruption scandal.