TURIN, June 27 - Former Juventus player Gianluca Pessotto was in a serious condition on Tuesday after falling from a window at the club's headquarters.

Italy defender Gianluca Pessotto poses for an official photo before the European soccer championships at the team's training grounds in Coverciano, Italy in this May 29, 2000 file photo. [Reuters]

The former defender, now the club's team manager, suffered multiple fractures but his life was not in danger, a spokesman said.

Pessotto was found clutching a rosary having fallen some 15 metres, police sources said. They said it was unclear what had happened.

Juventus is at the centre of a match-fixing scandal that has rocked Italian soccer.

Pessotto, who took up the post of team manager at the end of last season after 11 years with the team, is not among those facing charges at a sports tribunal due to start on Thursday.

Italy captain and Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro walked out a news conference at the Italian team's World Cup training camp when he heard from journalists about Pessotto's fall.

The scandal began last month with the publication of intecepted telephone conversations between former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi and Italian Football Federation officials discussing refereeing appointments.