Sixteen people, including former Italy and Lazio striker Giuseppe Signori, have been arrested for alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
Others arrested reportedly include Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni and former Serie A player Stefano Bettarini, along with lower-league players, club executives and betting operators.
Cremona prosecutor Roberto Di Martino told a news conference that the investigation began following a Serie C match between Cremonese and Paganese in November.
Speaking at a press conference at the city's police headquarters, Di Martino said: "It is understood that a substance was mixed with water, a tranquilliser, that the Cremonese players drank during the game or before.
"One player was involved in an unexplainable car accident, after which Cremonese registered an official complaint with the police."
One of Italian football's biggest betting scandals came in 1980, resulting in numerous arrests and bans for club officials and top players, including Paolo Rossi, who returned to lead Italy to the 1982 World Cup title.
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| Giuseppe Signori represented Lazio in between 1992 and 1997 Photo: Getty Images |
Others arrested reportedly include Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni and former Serie A player Stefano Bettarini, along with lower-league players, club executives and betting operators.
The police operation was based in Cremona and arrests were carried out by policemen in Ancona, Ascoli, Bari, Benevento, Bologna, Como, Ferrara, Naples, Pescara, Ravenna, Rimini, Rome, and Turin.
Cremona prosecutor Roberto Di Martino told a news conference that the investigation began following a Serie C match between Cremonese and Paganese in November.
Speaking at a press conference at the city's police headquarters, Di Martino said: "It is understood that a substance was mixed with water, a tranquilliser, that the Cremonese players drank during the game or before.
"One player was involved in an unexplainable car accident, after which Cremonese registered an official complaint with the police."
One of Italian football's biggest betting scandals came in 1980, resulting in numerous arrests and bans for club officials and top players, including Paolo Rossi, who returned to lead Italy to the 1982 World Cup title.
Also see:
