By David Gold
June 5 – Lazio captain Stefano Mauri has been released from jail as the investigation into match fixing in Italy continues.
The midfielder (pictured top, on right) was placed under arrest last week as part of the police inquiry covering across Italy’s various leagues, including Serie A.
Mauri, along with Padova’s former Genoa midfielder Omar Milanetto, will now be kept under house arrest as the investigation continues.
Their arrests were in connection with Lazio’s fixtures last season against Lecce and Genoa.
Judge Guido Salvini (pictured below) admitted that the case for keeping Mauri under arrest had been “considerably reduced” following questioning, although he also said some of the player’s defence was “scarcely plausible”.
Salvini also suggested that dark clouds hung over another game as a result of the investigation: the derby between Genoa and Sampdoria.
The affair has also implicated Juventus coach Antonio Conte, who has just guided his team to the Serie A title, but he denies any allegations linking him during his time with Siena.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli recently dropped Zenit St Petersburg’s former Genoa left back Domenico Criscito from his Euro 2012 squad in order to give him the chance to clear his name in connection with match-fixing allegations.
The latest investigation has even led to the country’s Prime Minister, Mario Monti, suggesting that football be suspended for up to three years to help eradicate Italy’s match-fixing problem.
It is the latest scandal to affect the country following an investigation last year into match fixing in the lower leagues, which led to a number of punishments for clubs and players.
In 2006, Italy was rocked by the infamous Calciopoli scandal which involved some of the country’s leading clubs, including Juventus, AC Milan and Lazio.
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