Atalanta are set to begin the Serie A season with a seven point deduction as part of the latest betting scandal to hit Italian football.

The newly-promoted side were one of 18 teams implicated in the calcioscommesse betting scandal and received notice of their punishment at a hearing before the Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) sporting prosecutor in Rome on Wednesday.

Last season's Serie B clash between Atalanta and Piacenza came under scrutiny following reports of irregular betting patterns.

Atalanta's veteran captain Cristiano Doni, 38, has been hit with a three-and-a-half-year ban for his actions. Team-mate Thomas Manfredini received a three-year ban.

The punishments are the recommendation of federal prosecutor Stefano Palazzi, using information from an investigation undertaken by the public prosecutor of Cremona.

All of Wednesday's recommendations - outside of any plea bargains - still need to be ratified by the FIGC's disciplinary commission.