Conte facing long ban

Antonio Conte: Juventus coach's plea bargain deal has been rejected by the Italian Football Federation

Juventus coach Antonio Conte is staring at a lengthy ban from football after his plea bargain deal was turned down by the Italian Football Federation.

Conte is accused of failing to report alleged match-fixing involving Siena when he managed the club in the 2010-11 Serie B season.

The club's plea bargain deal was accepted, meaning they will start the new Serie A season with a six-point deduction, but Conte's proposal - which would have seen him serve a three-month suspension and pay a fine of €200,000 - was turned down.

He will now have to either submit a new offer or face a sports tribunal, with either option likely to lead to a longer ban.

Charges against Conte of direct involvement in match-fixing were dismissed last week but, having originally denied all charges, he later tried to reach a compromise deal over failure to report the alleged misdemeanours going on within his team.

Siena saw an initial proposal of a five-point penalty rejected, but a second offer of six points was approved.

President Massimo Mezzaroma told the club's official website: "The plea bargain allows us to finally turn the page, as we all want.

"This penalty should be a further incentive for everybody.

"We will demonstrate on the field that we can earn our salvation, even starting with this initial handicap, thanks to our values and our ability to overcome difficulties."