Italian football in a fix again

Criscito out of Euro squad after police raid.

ROME: In a series of co-ordinated raids, 19 people were held by police following an investigation into match-fixing allegations in Italian football by the Cremona public prosecutor.

Of those, 14 were arrested, three were held under house arrest and two more ordered to present themselves to police. Italian defender Domenico Criscito, whose room was raided for investigation, was axed from the national Euro 2012 squad as a result.

Lazio captain Stefano Mauri and Padova midfielder Omar Milanetto, formerly of Genoa, were amongst those arrested. Juventus coach Antonio Conte was submitted to a home search, as was Chievo captain Sergio Pellissier. But the main drama was at Italy’s Coverciano base, just outside Florence, where police swooped and searched Criscito’s room, although it is believed nothing was taken away. Criscito was handed a notice of indictment in the raid.

Cremona public prosecutor Stefano Di Martino told a news conference that no other national team players were involved and that Criscito could ‘calmly go to the Euros’, as he was merely helping police with the investigation.

But Italian coach Cesare Prandelli, who has a history of excluding players with disciplinary problems, axed Criscito from Italy’s Euro 2012 squad. Prandelli was due to announce his 23-man squad yesterday and the Italian Football Federation Vice President Demetrio Albertini confirmed Criscito will not be a part of it.

In 2006, the league’s four top clubs - AC Milan, Fiorentina, Juventus and Lazio - were accused of influencing referee appointments for their respective matches and were charged with hefty penalties. AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio were punished with point deductions while Juventus were demoted to Serie B.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2012.