Juve coach Conte's ban reduced to four months

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has had his 'Calcioscommesse' match-fixing ban reduced from 10 months to four months, Italy's National Court of Arbitration for Sport (TNAS) announced on Friday. Conte was suspended by the Italian authorities before the start of the season after being accused of failing to disclose knowledge of match-fixing during his time at Siena in the 2010-11 season. He will now be able to resume his job with the Turin giants, level with Napoli at the top of Serie A, on December 8. Conte's touchline ban has been endorsed by football's world ruling body FIFA, meaning he cannot coach the Serie A champions during international as well as domestic fixtures. His punishment was shortened following a meeting on Tuesday when his lawyers submitted fresh evidence to arbitrators. Conte has always denied the charge that he was aware that the match between his then team Sienna and Albinoleffe on May 29, 2011, was fixed. In a statement TNAS declared that it "rejects Antonio Conte's main demand (of his innocence) but partially accepts it and now inflicts this punishment on him until December 8." Conte can resume his place in the Juve dugout for the Serie A game against Palermo but will have to wait until the Champions Lewague knockout stages should Juventus make it that far as the concluding group stage match is held on December 5, three days before his ban expires.