Italian soccer players penalized for match fixing

ROME, July 16 (UPI) -- The Italian Soccer Federation suspended 20 players Tuesday, including Turin keeper Jean-Francois Gillet, for attempted match-fixing.

Gillet, the best-known of the players punished, was banned from soccer for three years and seven months, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. Gillet was found to have attempted to fix two games involving his former team, Bari, in 2008 and 2009.

The players received penalties ranging from six months to four years. Bari was the team involved for all of them.

Earlier this month, the federation's disciplinary commission agreed to plea bargains with 10 players, including two with Serie A teams, Turin striker Paulo Vitor de Souza Barreto and Genoa defender Giovanni Marchese.