Gattuso rubbishes accusations as Italian football rushes to his defence

Gattuso, an iconic figure who won two Serie A titles, two Champions League crowns and the 2006 World Cup during his 13-year spell with AC Milan, is reported to be one of five suspects detained and questioned after an early morning police raid this week as part of Italy’s ongoing war on match-fixing that has already resulted in more than 50 arrests.

Officials involved in the case confirmed that Cristian Brocchi who played for Lazio, AC Milan and Inter Milan, is also being investigated.

The police raids are believed to be connected with more than 30 matches stretching back to 2009 but Gattuso has described the accusations against him as “absurd”.

“I’m angry and offended,” he told the Italian media. “I don’t even know how you would fix a match. I don’t know how you’d go about it.”

“I have never gambled in my life. If something were to be proven I would be willing to go out into the street and – I know this is a strong thing to say – I would kill myself.”

Gattuso, 35, recently switched to coaching but was sacked by Serie B Palermo in September after a series of bad early-season results.

The media and football establishment in Italy have rushed to his defence over the current allegations. “Gattuso non c’entra [Gattuso has nothing to do with it]” was the front page headline in Corriere dello Sport while Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has no doubt about his innocence.

“I would not put my hand in the fire for anyone, but I know Gattuso, I would give him my wallet because I know he is a trustworthy person,” Zamparini told Italian radio. “It seems impossible to me that Gennaro could be involved. I respect him as a man and I admire him.”

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