Fifa have threatened the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) with heavy sanctions if they don't step in to block Juventus' appeal against their punishment in the match-fixing trial.

Italian clubs could be banned from playing in international competitions and the national team pulled out of the qualification campaign for Euro 2008 if the FIGC do not take any action.

Juventus announced on Monday they would take their appeal against the FIGC's decision to relegate them to Serie B and dock 17 points to the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio (TAR).

Taking a matter to a civil court is against Fifa's rules and could lead to the Federation being suspended.

That in turn could lead to the exclusion of Italian clubs and the national team from international competitions.

Article 61-2 FIFA's statutes claims that 'Recourse to ordinary courts of law is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the FIFA regulations'.

Article 61-3 continues: 'To ensure the foregoing, the Associations shall insert a clause in their statutes stipulating that their clubs and members are prohibited from taking a dispute to ordinary courts of law and are required to submit any disagreement to the jurisdiction of the Association, the appropriate Confederation or FIFA.'

The FIGC, as reported on their website, have already sent a letter to Fifa explaining their objections to Juve's decision to appeal to the TAR and possible further sanctions against the Turin-based club.  Agencies