The2011–12 Italian football match-fixing scandal emerged on 1 June 2011 after a number of football-related figures were arrested or placed under official scrutiny by Italian police for allegedmatch-fixing.[1][2] The list included well-known figures like former Italian international footballerGiuseppe Signori, as well as formerSerie A playersMauro Bressan,Stefano Bettarini andCristiano Doni.[2] The group was accused of having fixed a wide range ofSerie B,Lega Pro Prima Divisione andLega Pro Seconda Divisione games.
The inquiry started following a denunciation fromLega Pro Prima Divisione clubCremonese, instigated by internal suspicions involving first team goalkeeperMarco Paoloni, who was sold toBenevento in January 2011.[2]
Some of the involved persons had already been questioned or condemned for similar charges: Cristiano Doni was acquitted in 2000, whereas Vincenzo Sommese (in 2007) and Stefano Bettarini (in 2005) were each disqualified for six months due to illegal betting.
Following the inquiry, media speculated about the possibility thatAtalanta andSiena might lose their right to play in Serie A in 2011–12. Atalanta's situation was considered particularly delicate due to the direct involvement of Cristiano Doni in the match fixing process, whereas Siena was accused of having paidSassuolo players in order to obtain a win by more than three goals (game ended 4–0); Sassuolo, Ascoli,Padova andPiacenza were also mentioned in the inquiry and were at risk of being punished by the Federation due to the "objective responsibility" law.[3]
On 9 August 2011, the Italian Football Federation announced the first-degree charges for all involved parties in the scandal.[4]
TheCorte di Giustizia Federale of Italian Football Federation announced the following appeal.
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TheTribunale Nazionale di Arbitrato per lo Sport of the Italian National Olympic Committee announced the following final appeal:
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On 11 October 2011, as part of a betting investigation, FIGC announced the ban for match-fixing of Juve Stabia – Sorrento on 5 April 2009. The case was referred to FIGC by Naples criminal court.[9]
| Name | Sentences (CDN) | Appeal (CGF) | Final Appeal (TNAS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.S. Juve Stabia | 5-point deduction in the 2011–12 season. | 3-point deduction | Rejected[10] |
| Sorrento Calcio | 2-point deduction in the 2011–12 season, plus €20,000 fine. |
| Name | Sentences (CDN)[11] | Appeal (CGF)[12] | Final Appeal (TNAS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberto Amodio | 3-year ban from football activities | Rejected | Rejected |
| Cristian Biancone | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | ||
| Antonino Castellano | 1-year ban from football activities | Rejected | |
| Vitangelo Spadavecchia | 3-year, 3-month ban from football activities | Rejected | Rejected[13] |
On 19 December 2011, a new police operation coordinated by the Magistrature of Cremona led to a number of high-profile arrests, including active and former footballers such asCristiano Doni,Luigi Sartor,Alessandro Zamperini,Nicola Santoni,Carlo Gervasoni andFilippo Carobbio. The inquiry started afterGubbio defenderSimone Farina denounced a match fixing attempt from Zamperini (a former teammate of him atRoma), with a subsequent investigation leading the police to unveil a complex gambling system involving criminal figures inSingapore, Eastern Europe and Italy with interest in fixing football games all over Europe.[14] Both investigations were initiated and helped by abnormal betting flow reports.[15] Those reports were generated and reported to authorities by Austrian bookmakerSKS365.[16]
The scandal then dramatically evolved a few months later: on 28 May 2012, a number of higher-profile players were involved, and the Cremone Magistrature went on to arrestLazio vice-captainStefano Mauri, formerGenoa captainOmar Milanetto,Cristian Bertani,Paolo Acerbis,Matteo Gritti,Alessandro Pellicori,Ivan Tisci andMarco Turati, whereasJosé Joelson Inácio was put under house arrest andKewullay Conteh andFrancesco Ruopolo were forbidden to leave the country.[17][18] More football figures were also put under investigation: among these,Juventus Serie A-winning head coachAntonio Conte (due to alleged failure to report attempted sporting fraud during his period as Siena manager), formerMilan starKakha Kaladze, Genoa strikerGiuseppe Sculli (for whom the judge rejected an arrest request),Chievo strikerSergio Pellissier andItalian internationalDomenico Criscito who was training atCoverciano with theAzzurri team at the time, and was excluded from theUEFA Euro 2012roster as a consequence.[18]
Shortly after the latest arrests,PremierMario Monti publicly suggested that football competition in the country be suspended for at least two years. He indicated that this was his personal opinion, not a formal government proposal.[19] The manager of the Italy national team,Cesare Prandelli, said he "would have no problem" if his side were barred fromEuro 2012 in the wake of the scandal.[20]
The National Discipline Commission (CDN) of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced the first-degree charges for some involved parties in the scandal on 31 May[21] and 18 June.[22] On 6 July 2012 "Corte di Giustizia Federale" of FIGC announced the appeal ruling.[23]
| This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(July 2012) |
| Name | Sentences (CDN) | Appeal (CGF) | Final Appeal (TNAS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrea Alberti | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | Acquitted[24] |
| Mirko Bellodi | 2-year ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Davide Caremi | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | Dismissed[25] |
| Filippo Carobbio | 1-year, 8-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Mario Cassano | 5-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | Dismissed[26] |
| Edoardo Catinali | 9-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Marco Cellini | 4-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Roberto Colacone | 4-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Alberto Comazzi | 4-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Kewullay Conteh | 1-year, 8-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Federico Cossato | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | — | |
| Filippo Cristante | 3-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Andrea De Falco | 6-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Franco De Falco | 3-year, 9-month ban from football activities | 1-year ban from football activities and €30,000 fine | 1-year ban from football activities[27] |
| Alfonso De Lucia | 5-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Cristiano Doni | 2-year ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Nicola Ferrari | 3-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | 6-month ban from football activities (immediate release)[28][29] |
| Riccardo Fissore | 3-year, 9-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | 14-month ban from football activities[30] |
| Luca Fiuzzi | 4-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | 1-year ban from football activities[31] |
| Alberto Maria Fontana | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | Acquitted[32] |
| Ruben Garlini | 3-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | —[33] |
| Carlo Gervasoni | 1-year, 8-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Andrea Iaconi | 3-year, 9-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Vincenzo Iacopino | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Vincenzo Italiano | 3-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Thomas Job | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | Acquitted[34] |
| Tomas Locatelli | 2-year ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Giuseppe Magalini | 3-year, 3-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Salvatore Mastronunzio | 4-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | 3-year ban from football activities[35] |
| Vittorio Micolucci | 4-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Nicola Mora | 4-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Antonio Narciso | 1-year, 3-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Maurizio Nassi | 3-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Gianluca Nicco | 3-year ban from football activities | 1-year ban from football activities and €30,000 fine | |
| Marco Paoloni | 4-year ban from football activities | — | |
| Gianfranco Parlato | 2-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Dario Passoni | 1-year, 2-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Alex Pederzoli | 1-year, 4-month ban from football activities and €10,000 fine | —(plea bargain) | |
| Mirco Poloni | 1-year ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Cesare Rickler | 4-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | 14-month ban from football activities[36] |
| Gianni Rosati | 3-year, 3-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Francesco Ruopolo | 1-year, 4-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Nicola Santoni | 5-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Vincenzo Santoruvo | Disqualification for 6 match-day | — | |
| Luigi Sartor | 5-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Alessandro Sbaffo | 1-year, 4-month ban from football activities and €100,000 fine | —(plea bargain) | |
| Mattia Serafini | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Mirko Stefani | 4-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Juri Tamburini | 10-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Daniele Vantaggiato | 3-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | 6-month from football activities[37] |
| Nicola Ventola | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
| Alessandro Zamperini | 5-year ban from football activities | Dismissed | |
On 18 June 2012, FIGC announced that the discipline action against the following players were suspended due to criminal body had started the legal process, the committee resumed the action in September.[38]
| Name | Sentences (CDN) | Appeal (CGF) |
|---|---|---|
| Paolo Acerbis | 2-year, 6-month ban from football activities | — (plea bargain) |
| Cristian Bertani | ||
| Joelson | 2-year, 6-month ban from football activities | — (plea bargain) |
| Alessandro Pellicori | ||
| Marco Turati |
Following intensive interrogation in March 2012, the authority of Bari and Cremona had referred several players, coaches and clubs to Italian Football Federation for disciplinary action as the third lot of operation. This included Siena coachAntonio Conte, as well as Italian internationalsLeonardo Bonucci of Bari,Simone Pepe of Udinese, andMarco Di Vaio of Bologna.[39]
On 1 August, Conte'splea bargain was rejected.[40] On 10 August 2012 Pepe, Bonucci, Di Vaio and three other players were acquitted along with Udinese.[41] A series of appeals from both sides was rejected by the judge; however, Grosseto and club president Piero Camilli were acquitted.[42]
| Name | Sentences (CDN) | Appeal (CGF) |
|---|---|---|
| U.C. AlbinoLeffe | 1-point deduction in the 2012–13 season, plus €30,000 fine. | —(plea bargain) |
| A.C. Ancona (under liquidation) | €10,000 fine | — |
| U.S. Grosseto F.C. | Relegation to2012–13 Lega Pro Prima Divisione. | acquitted |
| Novara Calcio | 2-point deduction in the 2012–13 season. | 1-point deduction in the 2012–13 season, plus €20,000 fine. |
| A.C. Siena | 6-point deduction in the 2012–13 season, plus €20,000 fine. | —(plea bargain) |
| Torino F.C. | 1-point deduction in the 2012–13 season, plus €30,000 fine. | —(plea bargain) |
| A.S. Varese 1910 | 1-point deduction in the 2012–13 season, plus €30,000 fine. | —(plea bargain) |
| Name | Sentences (CDN) | Appeal (CGF) | Final Appeal (TNAS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.S. Bari | 5-point deduction in the 2012–13 season, plus €80,000 fine. | — (plea bargain) | |
| Bologna F.C. 1909 | €30,000 fine | Rejected | |
| U.S. Lecce | Relegation to2012–13 Lega Pro Prima Divisione, plus €30,000 fine. | Rejected | Relegation[43] |
| Calcio Portogruaro Summaga | €5,000 fine | — (plea bargain) | |
| U.C. Sampdoria | 1-point deduction in the 2012–13 season, plus €30,000 fine. | — (plea bargain)[44] | |
| A.C. Siena | €80,000 fine | — (plea bargain) | |
| Name | Sentences (CDN) | Appeal (CGF) | Final Appeal (TNAS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angelo Alessio | 8-month ban from football activities | 6-month ban from football activities | 2-month ban from football activities[45] |
| Cristian Bertani | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Rejected | 3-year ban from football activities[46] |
| Davide Bombardini | 6-month ban from football activities | — | |
| Piero Camilli | 5-year ban from football activities | Acquitted | |
| Filippo Carobbio | 4-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Mario Cassano | 9-month ban from football activities | Rejected | Rejected[47] |
| Edoardo Catinali | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Rejected | 5-month ban from football activities[48] |
| Antonio Conte | 10-month ban from football activities | Partially acquitted, remained 10-month ban[49] | 4-month ban from football activities[50] |
| Ferdinando Coppola | 6-month ban from football activities | Rejected | 4-month ban from football activities[51] |
| Angelo da Costa Júnior | 3-month ban from football activities and €30,000 fine | —(plea bargain) | |
| Giorgio D'Urbano | 5-month, 10-day ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Davide Drascek | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Rejected | 2-month ban from football activities (immediate release)[52] |
| Daniele Faggiano | 4-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Ruben Garlini | 9-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain)[33] | |
| Carlo Gervasoni | 3-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Mavillo Gheller | 6-month ban from football activities | Rejected | acquitted[53] |
| Marcelo Larrondo | 3-month, 20-day ban from football activities and €30,000 fine | —(plea bargain) | |
| Dario Passoni | 6-month, 15-day ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Alessandro Pellicori | 3-year ban from football activities | Rejected | |
| Emanuele Pesoli | 3-year ban from football activities | Rejected | 10-month ban from football activities[54] |
| Mirco Poloni | 6-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Luigi Sala | 2-year ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Marco Savorani | 5-month, 10-day ban from football activities and €30,000 fine | —(plea bargain) | |
| Cristian Stellini | 2-year ban from football activities and €50,000 fine | —(plea bargain) | |
| Claudio Terzi | 3-year, 6-month ban from football activities | Rejected | 7-month ban from football activities[55] |
| Roberto Vitiello | 4-year ban from football activities | Rejected | 9-month ban from football activities[56] |
| Name | Sentences (CDN) | Appeal (CGF) | Final Appeal (TNAS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guido Angelozzi | 4-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Antonio Bellavista | 4-year ban from football activities | — | |
| Nicola Belmonte | 6-month ban from football activities | Rejected | 4-month ban from football activities[57] |
| Simone Bentivoglio | 1-year, 1-month ban from football activities and €50,000 fine[58] | —(plea bargain) | |
| Filippo Carobbio | 2-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Marco Esposito | 3-month, 10-day ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Carlo Gervasoni | 1-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Stefano Guberti | 3-year ban from football activities | Rejected | Rejected[59] |
| Andrea Masiello | 2-year, 2-month ban from football activities and €30,000 fine | —(plea bargain) | |
| Bortolo Mutti | 4-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Alessandro Parisi | 2-year ban from football activities and €10,000 fine | —(plea bargain) | |
| Daniele Portanova | 6-month ban from football activities | Rejected | 4-month ban from football activities[60] |
| Marco Rossi | 1-year, 8-month ban from football activities and €20,000 fine | —(plea bargain) | |
| Pierandrea Semeraro | 5-year ban from football activities | Rejected | 4-year ban from football activities[43] |
| Marcello Sanfelice | 4-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
| Cristian Stellini | 6-month ban from football activities | —(plea bargain) | |
