Prosecutors seek Napoli sanctions over match-fixing

ROME (AFP) –

Napoli‘s players pose prior the UEFA Europa league Group F football match SSC Napoli vs PSV Eindhoven on December 6. Italian football federation (FIGC) prosecutors on Monday demanded Napoli be docked one point and captain Paolo Cannavaro banned for nine months for their role in the “Calcioscommesse” match-fixing affair.

Italian football federation (FIGC) prosecutors on Monday demanded Napoli be docked one point and captain Paolo Cannavaro banned for nine months for their role in the “Calcioscommesse” match-fixing affair.

The same punishment has been sought for one other Napoli player, Gianluca Grava, as well as Napoli’s former number two goalkeeper, Matteo Gianello.

The charges relate to attempts to affect the outcome of games, a practice which is linked to illegal betting rings.

Gianello is alleged to have played a leading role in attempts to decide the outcome of the Sampdoria v Napoli game on May 16, 2010. FIGC prosecutor Stefano Palazzi is seeking a three year ban for the player.

Both Cannavaro and Grava are accused of failing to report their knowledge of the match-fixing attempt.

Prosecutor Palazzi, who also demanded Napoli pay a fine of 100,000 euros, said: “Napoli must hold up its hands, as much for the charge against Gianello as for the failure of Cannavaro and Grava to report this.”

The Calcioscommesse scandal — football betting — is ongoing, with investigators in Cremona and Bari yet to conclude their respective probes.

The scandal erupted in June 2011 and has since implicated a number of players, from both Serie A and Serie B, who are suspected of having helped fix games for payment by illegal betting rings.

A number of teams including Atalanta (two) and Siena (six) began the current Serie A season with points deductions for their roles in Calcioscommesse.

A decision on Monday’s request by prosecutors is expected Thursday or Friday in Rome.