Juve stands by coach, players

Conte, who led Juventus to the Serie A title last season, has been accused of failing to report match-fixing in two games in the 2010-2011 season when he was coach of the Serie B side Siena.

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has been accused of involvement in an attempt to fix the result of a match when he played for Bari in 2010, while team-mate Simone Pepe is facing a similar charge to Conte.

Coaches Angelo Alessio and Cristian Stellini have also been implicated in the affair.

Agnelli was quoted on the club's website as saying the referrals to the Italian football federation's disciplinary commission FICG "leave a bitter taste in our mouths."

Conte, Alessio, Stellini, Bonucci and Pepe had the club's "full support," he said.

"Juventus are a company quoted on the stock exchange, but people perceive us like a team, and all those involved who have devoted work and passion to the Bianconeri's colours have an even stronger perception," he said.

"In teams, people help one another while fighting, losing and winning. But nobody is alone. And even now nobody will be abandoned."

Conte's hearing will begin on Wednesday and if the tribunal finds against him, he could face a suspension of up to six months, Italian media reported. Bonucci, who appeared for Italy at EURO 2012, is set to appear two days later and could face a ban of up to three years.

They are among 45 people from 13 clubs who have been referred to the disciplinary committee "as part of the investigation into betting in football and related to an investigation by the Cremona and Bari public prosecutors' office," a statement from FICG said Thursday.