A sports trial over Italy's biggest soccer scandal resumed Monday in Rome's Olympic Stadium, with four top Serie A teams -- Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina -- facing match-fixing charges and possible relegation.

Twenty-six soccer officials, including referees, also face charges of match-fixing and disloyalty at a sports tribunal set up by the Italian soccer federation.

Tribunal president Cesare Ruperto adjourned proceedings on the first day of the trial last Thursday to allow five Serie B teams hoping to be promoted -- Lecce, Messina, Bologna, Brescia and Treviso -- time to prepare their cases.

All the accused have denied the charges of unfair conduct and sporting fraud, but if found guilty the clubs face penalties ranging from deducted points to relegation and being stripped of their titles. Individuals face bans.

The tribunal is expected to deliver its verdicts on July 10, the day after the World Cup final in Berlin.

Those found guilty can appeal, but the whole process must be wrapped up by July 27 -- the deadline set by UEFA for the Italian Football Federation to submit the list of teams to compete in next season's Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2006)