Serie A promotion wrangle over

Genoa demotion
Serie B champions Genoa will instead start the 2005/06 campaign in the third division after the FIGC uncovered evidence of match-fixing in their final game of last season against AC Venezia. Torino, who triumphed in the promotion play-offs, were denied a return to the élite due to poor finances and must remain in the second division.

Empoli remain
The decision means that, of the three clubs that gained promotion in June, only Serie B runners-up Empoli FC will compete in Serie A. The other two berths will go to Treviso and Ascoli, who finished fifth and sixth respectively, some way behind Genoa.

Historic weekend
Now these two sides will line up alongside Italy's finest on the first weekend of the season on 27/28 August. It will be a historic time for Treviso, marking their top-flight debut, while also ending a 13-year wait for Ascoli, belatedly returning to the highest tier following relegation in 1992.

New ruling
The clubs also finished behind AC Perugia, who will join Genoa in Serie C1 owing to their financial difficulties. Salernitana Sport must drop down a level too, as teams begin to feel the effects of a recent regulation stating that sides failing to gain a professional licence for financial reasons can reform and take their place in the division below.