Doni denies involvement in match-fixing
Reuters - Thursday 02 June 2011, 15:39
MILAN - Ex-Italy midfielder Cristiano Doni
denied on Thursday being involved in illegal betting and
match-fixing in the lower divisions after media reports said the
captain of the promoted Serie A side Atalanta was being probed.
Italian football, still recovering from a 2006 match-fixing
scandal in the top flight, was stunned on Wednesday when
authorities announced former Italy striker Giuseppe Signori was
among a number of people arrested over the allegations.
Police said some well-known footballers who are still
playing were also being investigated but had not been arrested,
prompting media reports that Doni, 38, was among them.
"Cristiano Doni, certain that he has always acted in respect
of the rules, has the utmost faith in the organs of criminal and
sporting justice and is sure they will prove he has absolutely
nothing to do with the issues under discussion," said a
statement from his representatives.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) told Reuters on
Wednesday it would open an inquiry after Atalanta and Siena, who
have both won promotion to Serie A for next season, were named
as being among the clubs under the spotlight.
Police said the six-month investigation had produced
evidence of an organised system among former and current
footballers, sports betting operators and others to manipulate
the results of a number of matches in Serie B and non-league.
They said bets worth tens of thousands of euros, and in some
cases hundreds of thousands, had been placed on matches.
Juventus were demoted in the 2006 affair, which revolved
around cosying up to referees rather than betting, but the
scandal is still not over with criminal and sporting courts
still examining the facts.