Match Fixing Scandal in Italy... again

[Adi]

ROME -- Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said it wouldn't bother him if his team withdraws from the European Championship while Italian soccer is engulfed in a huge match-fixing scandal.

The investigation into corruption led to 19 arrests this week, with Zenit St. Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito dropped from Prandelli's squad after being questioned at the national team's training headquarters.

Financial police also examined the banking records of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on suspicion he made large bets, but news reports say he has been cleared of wrongdoing.

Prandelli spoke to RaiSport in Zurich, where Italy will play Russia in an exhibition match, its last warm-up before leaving for Poland.

"If you told us that for the good of football we should not participate, it wouldn't be a problem for me," he said.

Apart from those arrested on Monday, three people have been placed under house arrest and two others have to present themselves to authorities. Five of the arrests were made in Hungary.

Numerous others have had their houses searched, including Chievo Verona striker Sergio Pellissier, Conte and Criscito.

The investigation was started by judicial authorities in Cremona last year. It has resulted in former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni being banned from soccer for 3½ years, and the arrest of former Lazio captain Giuseppe Signori.

Prosecutors in Cremona have detailed an extensive match-fixing ring stretching as far as Singapore and South America that was allegedly in operation for more than 10 years.

Italy has only recently recovered from the 2006 match-fixing scandal -- known as Calciopoli -- that resulted in Juventus being relegated to Serie B for a season, plus points penalties for several other Serie A teams and long bans for club and refereeing officials.

Italy went on to win the World Cup that year.

These guys are morons who never learn from their mistake.  FIFA and UEFA should stand up and suspend their national team from this year's EURO or penalize them with a point deduction for the World Cup qualifiers.

This just can't go on... not even 6 years have passed since the last big scandal.  This is unacceptable.

[jabarinho]

They should not ban the whole national team. Find the specific culprits and ban only them. Match-fixing happens in every country. If every country has to pay for a few individuals then many countries will be banned.

I know Italy is developing a bad reputation now, but it is still a minority of them.

Sad to see this though. But it will always exist because greedy, money-lovers will always exist

[Adi]

Match-fixing happens in every country.

Where is the proof?  A few Eastern European countries have also been caught, but no major league has this issue like Italy does.  It's a thing of ethics and moral.  Cheating is not worth the penalty you will pay when you get caught.  Other top leagues simply buy top players to win, Italy pays refs instead.

This is a joke and does NOT happen in most leagues, especially top leagues around Europe. 

[jabarinho]

in the last few years i've heard some small investigations in Spain and Germany, but no major scandal like in Italy. But i would not say for sure that there is nothing major. It may come up in the future, but i hope not.