Parma incur five-point penalty; ban for Calaio

rome — Parma retained their Serie A status but will start the new season with a five-point deduction, while forward Emanuele Calaio was banned for two years for what the Italian football federation deemed to be attempted match-fixing on Monday.

Calaio was also fined 20,000 euros ($23,000) after sending suspect text messages to an opposing player prior to the final match of the Serie B season in May, with Parma needing to beat Spezia to secure automatic promotion.

Calaio, who used to play for Spezia, sent four messages on WhatsApp to defender Filippo De Col, encouraging him and another former teammate Claudio Terzi, not to try too hard.

The 36-year-old Calaio insists he was joking and Parma, who risk being demoted back to Serie B because of the affair, said they will appeal.

“The court finds it proved that Calaio, in sending ex-teammate De Col the messages in question, put in place the attempt of a violation,” read a statement by the FIGC. “Even the request and/or the invitation to not commit tackles on the person himself ... can be believed to be evidence, at least in terms of attempt, of altering the outcome of the match.”

Four days before the crucial match, Calaio sent a series of messages to De Col: “Hey Pippein (De Col) you better not give me a hard time Friday my friend,” “Tell that to Claudiein (Terzi) too” and “Especially with the relationship you have with me.”

After getting no response, Calaio sent another message several hours later: “However Pippein be calm I was joking anyways for me it’s the same after all I’ll retire in a bit.” —