Lazio Captain Mauri Has Ban Increased To Nine Month.

LAZIO captain Stefano Mauri has had his ban for failing to report matchfixing increased to nine months after losing an appeal against the original six-month suspension.
 Italy's federal court of appeal (CGF) increased the ban on Wednesday and said that a 40,000-euro ($54,400) fine imposed on Lazio would be increased to 50,000 euro, the Italian soccer federation (FIGC) said in a statement. "The CGF...rejects the appeals of the footballer Stefano Mauri and of Lazio football club," it said.
 The player's legal team, who described the ruling as "not only unjust but incomprehensible", have 10 days to contest the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Mauri, 33, had initially been banned for six months by the football federation for keeping quiet about match-fixing in Lazio's game against Lecce in May 2011.
 The midfielder was one of eight players accused of sporting fraud relating to the Lecce match and a game against Genoa, both of which ended in 4-2 wins to the Rome side. The ruling means that Mauri's season is effectively over, with the ban keeping him out until at least May 2. His contract with the Serie A club expires at the end of the season.