Seven referees were temporarily suspended by the Italian referees association Thursday in Italy's ongoing soccer scandal.

The suspensions were made in response to the conclusion of an investigation by prosecutors in Naples last week, which uncovered new match-fixing allegations.

"The decision was made in light of the recommendations at the end of the preliminary investigation by the Naples court," the Italian referees association said in a statement.

The referees were suspended pending an investigation by Italian sports authorities. They are Paolo Bertini, Stefano Cassara, Antonio Dattilo, Marco Gabriele, Gianluca Paparesta, Tiziano Pieri and Salvatore Racalbuto. Two linesmen, Marcello Ambrosino and Duccio Baglioni, were also suspended.

Juventus was relegated to Serie B and four clubs were penalized in Serie A this season for conspiring with referees to fix games in the 2004-05 season.

(China Daily via AP April 20, 2007)