Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been ordered to pay 560m euros in damages to a rival media company in a long-running legal dispute.

Mr Berlusconi's family investment company, Fininvest, was told to make the payment to Compagnie Industriali Riunite (CIR) by an appeals court in Milan.

The civil damages award stems from a case in which three Berlusconi associates were convicted of corruption during a takeover battle for publisher Mondadori.

The acquisition of Italy's biggest publisher in 1991 was an important turning point for Mr Berlusconi's media empire.

In a bid to wrest control of Mondadori from CIR founder Carlo de Benedetti, who owns Rome newspaper La Repubblica

- Mr Berlusconi's fiercest critic, the three Berlusconi associates bribed a Rome judge to overturn a ruling in favour of CIR.

CIR said the verdict confirmed that "corruption... organised on behalf and in the interest of Fininvest" was behind Mr de Benedetti's loss of Mondadori.

Marina Berlusconi, Mr Berlusconi's daughter who chairs Fininvest, said the "totally unjust verdict" was part of a campaign against her father.

"The verdict represents the umpteenth scandalous episode of violent aggression that has gone on for years against my father, by all means and on all fronts, including entrepreneurial and economic," she said.

She complained the award was worth twice Fininvest's share of Mondadori capital and said lawyers were considering an appeal to the nation's highest court.

Mr Berlusconi came under fire this week when he introduced a measure into Italy's austerity budget that would have allowed Fininvest to delay payment until the final appeal.

The Italian leader hastily withdrew the measure under opposition political pressure, but later said there was nothing to stop him from reintroducing the measure in parliament after the verdict.

The payout comes at a time when Mr Berlusconi has been weakened by local election and referendum defeats in recent weeks.

The Italian leader also faces four court cases, including the trial alleging he paid for sex with an underage dancer and then used his influence to cover it up.

In a newspaper interview on Friday, Mr Berlusconi said he would "absolutely not" stand for a new term in 2013.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-New...Running_Dispute

What the hell...

I believe this should have a massive affect on us ... I dare not to think of the scenarios that would affect us first hand.

We don't have another Kaka to sell, but I can see Silva, Pato or Ibrahimovic leaving. Even though, in this situtation I'm more than satisfied with the squad we have, I'm just hoping we don't sell anyone.

I hope for the same too my friend ... But I heard the ruling was appealed and a higher court, and that Berlusconi - as PM - has implemented a new 'legal policy' in that no ruling can be taken into affect until all the appeal process is exhausted.

peanuts...

Peanuts, and we are also forgetting two very important things, folks. One, that Mr. B's declared wealth is surely lower than his undeclared one. Anyone who believes otherwise is mighty delusional. And secondly the fine (if it stays) will be spread over 10 years in equal payments. Nothing much to fear about, either way.

Won't affect us financially. But it will be used as an excuse of lowering prices and/or not signing players.



I wouldn't worry to much about it.

+1

Barbara Berlusconi : My father will not sell Milan - link

That is not good news for us. Negative effects will come upon us.

I don't like you. I shall block you. Die!