More than 20 Italian clubs under investigation in match fixing scandal

By Andrew Warshaw

May 9 – Italian football has been further disgraced by yet another serious match fixing development with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirming that 22 clubs and 61 individuals – including 52 active players and three coaches – have been placed under investigation.

Twenty-four hours after a raft of players and officials were sanctioned in Turkey, the FIGC announced that those identified would be informed of their alleged crimes today.

In addition, 33 matches are under investigation, including 29 in Serie B but none in the top division, Serie A.

Already in the past year, more than 30 people have been arrested in Italy as part of a probe by judicial authorities, leading to a likely massive sports trial during the summer similar to the ongoing court proceedings in Turkey and the 2006 scandal that saw Juventus relegated to Serie B.

Andrea Masiello (pictured above), a former player for Bari, has already been arrested after admitting scoring an own-goal last season in return for tens of thousands of Euros.

At the time, his club were still in Serie A.

Last August, a number of players and teams were handed punishments ranging from fines to points deductions for their involvement with illegal betting.

The most high profile were former Italy internationals Cristiano Doni, banned from all football activity for three and a half years, and former Lazio captain Giuseppe Signori, given a five-year ban.

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