Gennaro Gattuso in match-fixing probe of Italian Serie A
Ex-player accused of being in ring at centre of investigation on club's 2011 title campaign
Former AC Milan and Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso was placed under investigation for match-fixing yesterday as the widening Italian inquiry into soccer corruption targeted Milan's last title campaign.
Four others were arrested in an early morning police sweep.
Cremona prosecutor Roberto Di Martino, who has been leading the Last Bet operation for three years, confirmed that Gattuso and retired Milan and Lazio player Cristian Brocchi were allegedly part of a ring that fixed Serie A and other Italian matches at the end of the 2010-11 season.
The four people arrested were Salvatore Spadaro, Francesco Bazzani, Cosimo Rinci and Fabio Quadri. Each of them allegedly helped connect fixers to players, Di Martino said.
Gattuso and Brocchi were connected to the case by the use of phone taps
Gattuso and Brocchi face charges of criminal conspiracy and sports fraud, said the ANSA news agency, and had their homes searched. About 20 other people were also placed under investigation.
"Gattuso and Brocchi were connected to the case by the use of phone taps," said Di Martino, who could not confirm the exact charges.