By David Gold
December 19 – Former Italy midfielder Cristiano Doni, who was banned from football for three-and-a-half years earlier in 2011, has been arrested today by police investigating another match fixing and betting scandal in the country.
Doni, who was capped seven times by Italy, was given his ban after being found guilty of involvement in a betting ring seeking to manipulate the results of matches in the Italian lower leagues.
Along with Doni, his former international teammate Beppe Signori was banned for five years.
A total of 17 teams were given a range of points penalties and fines for their involvement, including Doni’s former club Atalanta, who received a six point penalty.
The Serie A club are once more involved in the latest investigation, with their games in Serie B last season under suspicion.
Three Serie A games are also reportedly being looked at, and Cremona prosecutor Roberto di Martino has pledged that “this is not the end…just a starting point.”
He continued: “Let’s hope it’s a starting point in cleaning up the beautiful game that is football, one of the suspects has admitted that these operations have been going on for over 10 years.
“The shareholders are divided from the West, to the Far East, to South America and they arrange with their men how to change the outcome of football matches.”
It is the latest blow to Italian football as it looks to shake off the consequences of the Calciopoli scandal of 2006, when Juventus were stripped of two league titles and relegated to Serie B after being found guilty of manipulating the selection of referees.
AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reginna were all also involved in that scandal, and Juventus are still campaigning to have the 2006 title, which was awarded to Internazionale, stripped from the Nerazzuri after evidence came to light earlier this year allegedly implicating them in the affair.
The latest investigation highlights the growing attempts by football authorities to battle match fixing and betting rings seeking to manipulate the game, with scandals this year being uncovered across the world, from Turkey to South Korea.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1738748870labto1738748870ofdlr1738748870owedi1738748870sni@d1738748870log.d1738748870ivad1738748870
Related stories
August 2011: Atalanta docked six points for their role in Italian match fixing affair
July 2011: Two Serie A teams face FIGC disciplinary hearing over match fixing allegations
July 2011: Juventus launch petition to strip Inter of Scudetto