Emanuele Pesoli ended his hunger strike and met the FIGC President, but warns “I want to speak face-to-face to my accusers. I haven’t done anything.”

Emanuele Pesoli ended his hunger strike and met the FIGC President, but warns “I want to speak face-to-face to my accusers. I haven’t done anything.”

The ex-Siena defender was chained to the gates of the Federation headquarters in Rome for five days on hunger strike before securing a meeting with President Giancarlo Abete to discuss his three-year ban in the betting trial.

“I thank President Abete, who interrupted his summer vacation to meet with me,” said the 28-year-old.

“We had a chat and he showed himself to be very sensitive, but he cannot interfere with the sporting justice system.

“It is very satisfying to meet with the President of the FIGC, but my protest was aimed at earning a confrontation with my accusers, which unfortunately isn’t going to happen.”

Pesoli and his lawyers claim they cannot mount a full defence in court when they are not allowed to cross-examine the testimony of Carlo Gervasoni and Filippo Carobbio. The appeals process begins on Monday.

“I have to remain hopeful, because I haven’t done anything,” continued Pesoli. “I wanted to look those two in the eye, but I wasn’t allowed to.

“I will still make my reasons clear with the grit I have within me, because I want to get back on the playing field.

“It’s not right that a 5-0 defeat is blamed on me and accusations of sporting fraud purely because of what those two have said. I invite them to be there in the courtroom. If they have the courage, I will be there on Monday.”

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