Pesoli ends hunger strike

Emanuele Pesoli: Former Siena defender has ended his four-day hunger strike

Former Siena defender Emanuele Pesoli has ended his four-day hunger strike in protest against the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

The defender chained himself to the gates of the FIGC headquarters in Rome on Saturday after being banned from football for three years for alleged involvement in match fixing.

But the 32-year-old, sitting on a chair under an umbrella, ate for the first time on Wednesday morning before ending his protest later in the evening after a phonecall from FIGC vice president Demetrio Albertini.

Pesoli will meet with FIGC president Giancarlo Abete for talks on Friday having staunchly denied any wrongdoing since the verdicts were issued last week.

Quoted in the Gazzetta dello Sport, Pesoli said: "I've ended my protest partly because of what Albertini said to me, and partly because of president Abete's involvement.

"I will meet him at 10am on Friday at the FIGC."

Weak and tired

The wider verdicts of the 'Calcioscommesse' trial included suspension for Juventus coach Antonio Conte, who received a 10-month suspension for allegedly failing to report match-fixing while in charge of Siena.

Serie B clubs Grosseto and Lecce were demoted to the Lega Pro for their involvement.

Pesoli added: "I was also advised by my doctor, who urged me to eat something this morning.

"I'm weak, a bit tired, my blood pressure's not great and I've lost a few pounds.

"It shouldn't be a problem to resume (the protest). My health's not been too badly compromised, it's more a case of mental scars."

Chat

The defender, who has agreed to move to Verona, is under no illusions over the nature of Friday's meeting with Abete.

Pesoli said: "None of the public prosecutors or court representatives showed up and I was also disappointed with AIC, the players' union, from whom I expected more concrete support during my protest, but instead they just issued a statement.

"Meeting Abete will be a good show of solidarity, but I do not think that the president can influence decisions of justice.

"It will just be a chat, but maybe it will make the federal prosecutors listen."