Italy hit with fixing scandal Again!

Italy hit with fixing scandal Again!

Italian league is never far away from match fixing scam as it's the fourth time in the last ten years that, police and the legal bodies are involved.

This time 50 people have been arrested or detained throughout Italy and more than 70 placed under investigation as part of a widespread match-fixing inquiry led by anti-Mafia prosecutors in the southern town of Catanzaro.

It is said that those involved “were plotting to extend the fixes to Serie B and bigger matches”, Catanzaro prosecutor Vincenzo Antonio Lombardo said.

Catanzaro prosecutors say they have uncovered a network between football players, coaches, club presidents and management members involving more than 30 clubs. One police officer was involved, authorities said.

Authorities said the network also had ties in Serbia, Slovenia, Malta, Turkey and Kazakhstan.

Police say clubs involved include Pro Patria, Barletta, Brindisi, L’Aquila, Neapolis Mugnano, Torres, Vigor-Lametia, Santarcangelo, Sorrento, Montalto, Puteolana, Akragas and San Severo.

“Probably in situations like these there needs to be better control of the leagues and more checks required,” Italian coaches’ association president Renzo Ulivieri told the Gazzetta dello Sport. “If this is the situation, we’re facing an absolute emergency.”

Serie B famously found itself at the centre of a match fixing scandal in the 2010/11 season, with over 50 players receiving bans and several clubs punished with points deductions.

With Italian football’s controversial past dealings in match-fixing, concerns were instantly raised.