Twenty one players suspected of match fixing

La Gazetta dello Sport reported this morning that the Italian football federation, FIGC, and prosecutors in Udine have evidence of huge sums being gambled on Italian matches over the past two seasons.

Among those named by the newspaper as suspects include AC Milan’s Czech midfielder Marek Jankulovski and Australian keeper Zeljko Kalac, Palermo striker David Di Michele and international striker Vincenzo Iaquinta of Udinese. It is claimed that Di Michele wagered almost 100,000 euros (US$130,000) on the outcome of various games.

Prosecutors claim one of the bets was on a Reggina vs Bologna match in May 2005. A single bet of 100,000 euros was placed with betting company Eurobet on a draw in the Serie A tie, which ended in a 1-1 score. The bet paid 140,000 euros.

The FIGC, FIFA and UEFA all ban players from betting and in November 2006 introduced an 18 month ban on those caught gambling.

The full list of players that authorities are invesigating is: Abeijon (Atalanta), Bia (ex Bologna, Inter and Napoli), Bordin (ex Napoli), Di Michele (Palermo), Ferrante (Pescara), Fresi (ex Inter), Gregori (ex Udinese and Verona), Iaquinta (Udinese), Jankulovski (Milan), Kalac (Milan), T. Manfredini (Bologna), Margiotta (Frosinone), Pierini (ex Udinese), Pineda (ex Udinese), Pinzi (Udinese), Scarlato (Spezia), Schwoch (Vicenza), Sgrigna (Vicenza), Sommese (Mantova), Sosa (Napoli), Walem (ex Udinese).