Conte’s fast-track match fixing trial begins

CREMONA, ITALY — A prosecutor requested a suspended six-month match-fixing sentence for current Italy coach and future Chelsea manager Antonio Conte on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Roberto Di Martino also requested a fine of $9,000 US for the coach as Conte’s fast-track trial began.

Conte is accused of sports fraud in 2010-11 when he was coach of Siena. The match under investigation is Siena’s 1-0 win at Albinoleffe in May 2011. Siena’s 2-2 draw at Novara, also in May 2011, was dropped from the inquiry.

Conte, who has denied wrongdoing, served a four-month ban during the 2012-13 season — when he was at Juventus — for failing to report fixing at Siena.

Conte was named as Chelsea’s next manager on Monday. He did not attend the hearing. He’ll move to Chelsea after this year’s European Championship.

The prosecutor requested a fourmonth suspended sentence for Conte’s longtime assistant Angelo Alessio for his role regarding the Albinoleffe match. Alessio is expected to join Conte at Chelsea.

Rulings are expected by mid-May, which would allow Conte to get the trial out of the way before Euro 2016 begins the following month.

Conte’s lawyer, Leonardo Cammarata, said there was “nothing surprising” about the prosecutor’s request and that the coach’s other attorneys would prepare to contest the accusations.

“We’re confident in our arguments,” Cammarata said.