By Andrew Warshaw
October 4 – Italy’s match-fixing scandal has taken another embarrassing turn with former Bari defender Andrea Masiello being handed a 22-month suspended prison sentence after admitting scoring a deliberate own goal.
The incident happened in a Serie A game in May last year and Masiello, currently without a club, confessed in court to intentionally diverting the ball into his own net to help arch-rivals Lecce avoid relegation.
Masiello, who played for Atalanta last season (pictured top), reportedly told prosecutors he scored the own goal on purpose in exchange for €180,000 (£145,000/$233,000).
Bari were already relegated at the time when Masiello deflected Lecce forward Jeda’s goal attempt beyond his own goalkeeper, Jean-François Gillet, with 10 minutes of the match remaining.
Bari have been docked seven points in Serie B this season and Lecce have been relegated to the third division in the ongoing match-fixing investigation.
Masiello’s trial was part of the same clampdown that saw Juventus boss Antonio Conte banned for ten months in August.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734852269labto1734852269ofdlr1734852269owedi1734852269sni@w1734852269ahsra1734852269w.wer1734852269dna1734852269