Coach Prandelli has "no problem" with Italy being pulled from Euro 2012

By David Gold

June 4 – Italy coach Cesare Prandelli (pictured left) would have “no problem” if they were to pull out of the European Championships as a result of the match fixing scandal in the country, he claimed.

Last week a police investigation saw 19 arrested including Lazio captain Stefano Mauri (pictured below).

As part of the investigation, Domenico Criscito, a player for Zenit St Petersburg, was questioned by police and subsequently dropped from the Italy squad.

It is the latest match fixing scandal to hit Italy after corruption in the lower leagues last year resulted in a number of penalties, fines and points punishments being issued to players and teams, including Serie A outfit Atalanta.

In 2006, the Calciopoli affair, just before the World Cup, saw Juventus stripped of the Scudetto title they had just won and relegated to Serie B.

AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina were also punished as a result of that scandal.

Prime Minister Mario Monti has even suggested this week that football is stopped for up to three years to help root out of the problem.

Prandelli, who is preparing his squad for their opening match against Spain next week, told RAI Sport: “If you told us that for the good of football we should not participate, it would not be a problem for me.

“There are things that I believe are more important.”

Prandelli also dismissed suggestions that national team goalkeeper Gianluigi Bufon had allegedly placed illegal bets, rumours of which surfaced this week.

“There is nothing which could even carry the faintest suggestion of a connection between Gianluigi Buffon and any betting activity that would concern him in any irregularity either with respect to federation rules or criminal law,” he said.

“There is not the slightest foundation for any suggestion that this is connected with a bet.

“We keep on saying those players caught up in the investigation will not be going to Euro 2012.

“How is Buffon’s mood?

“You should ask him.

“He is very strong, with a great personality.

“He manages to hide uncomfortable moments, but despite this, even a person like him can suffer in a difficult moment like this.”

Prandelli may just welcome the chance to avoid participating at the Euros as his team have failed to score in their last three fixtures.

They lost 3-0 to Russia (pictured above, Italy in blue) on Saturday (June 2) in their latest defeat following 1-0 losses against Uruguay and the United States.

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