SS Lazio skipper Stefano Mauri is one of eleven players arrested by Italian police as they investigate a match fixing scandal that threatens the nation’s preparation for the 2012 European Championships. The police also arrived at Italy’s training camp in Tuscany to search the room of former Genoa and current Zenit St.Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito and conduct further investigations. Like Criscito, Antonio Conte, the manager of 2011/12 domestic champions Juventus, has also been placed under investigation, although reports suggest this is more related to his time as manager at Siena rather than Juve. Conte managed Siena, whose president Massimo Mezzaroma, is also a suspect, before moving to Juve in 2011.
Omar Milanetto, former Genoa skipper, and Sampdoria striker Christopher Bertani have also been arrested along with Mauri. The house of Chievo Verona skipper Sergio Pellissier was also searched.
The match fixing trial will begin on May 31, with 22 clubs, 52 players and 33 matches ( mostly in Serie B) under the scanner.
Italy were rocked by the Calciopoli scandal on the eve of the 2006 World Cup too, the last title won by the Azzurri. The investigations then resulted in the relegation of Juventus to Italian football’s second tier.
Italian FA vice president Demetrio Albertini has already announced that Criscito will not be going to Euro 2012 despite Prandelli not having released his 23 member shortlist yet.
Next scandal in Italy – Calciopoli 2006 World Cupi winners, Squadre Azurra win Euro 2012?
Thank for news.
How easy is it to fix a soccer match if you aren’t the ref? How many people actually have to be in on it to make sure the result doesn’t go your way? Cricket it’s a little easier i guess. I wonder if there is spot fixing, like betting on a player giving away a penalty etc.
Euro2012 – I was thinking the same thing, lol! Crap, now they’re going to win the Euros!