Inter Milan have been ordered to pay €1 million in damages to Christian Vieri for spying on the former striker.

The striker won his legal challenge, although he had been seeking €20m, for allegations the club had him followed and wiretapped his phone to build up a dossier of off the field behaviour.

"We are certainly a little surprised by the sentence and will appeal, as we are convinced we were in the right," said Inter director general Marco Fassone.

Vieri's lawyers have taken the matter to the FIGC, which could in theory see the club penalised in a sporting court as well as a civil one.

"In sporting justice terms the events in question have already been buried, as the statute of limitations has expired," added Inter lawyer Fabio Iudica.

"As if that weren't enough, the sentence specifies clearly that it in no way affected the career of the player. There are therefore no damages to his image, so we are calm and will block the sentence with an appeal.

"How can anyone talk about revoking Scudetti when the events were in 1999 and 2004? In any case, the fans can relax as the statute of limitations has expired and I get the feeling we won't even reach the sporting court."