Serie A clubs Atalanta, Novara and Siena were among 22 Italian teams notified Wednesday that they are under investigation for game-fixing. Other clubs named by the Italian soccer federation (FIGC)were: AlbinoLeffe, Ancona, Ascoli, Avesa, Cremonese, Empoli, Frosinone, Grosseto, Livorno, Modena, Monza, Padova, Pescara, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggina, Rimini, Sampdoria and Spezia.
The FIGCsaid 61 people and 33 games were under investigation, including 29 in Serie B (second division), although none in Serie A. The allegations for Atalanta, Novara and Siena stem from past seasons inSerie B.
Former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni and former Lazio captain Giuseppe Signori are among more than 30 people arrested during the past year inthe probe started by judicial authorities in Cremona. Also named were former Piacenza player Carlo Gervasoni and former Cisco Roma player Alessandro Zamperini, whowere allegedly at the center of the game-fixing ring, plus former Inter Milan, Parma, Roma and Ternana defender Luigi Sartor.
Last summer, Doni was banned from soccer for 31/2 years by the federation, and Atalanta – which was promoted to Serie A for this season – was given a six-point penalty. The FIGC inquiry will likely lead to a massive sports trial this summer -just like the one in 2006 that resulted in Juventus being relegated to Serie B and point-penalties for several other top clubs. Juventus was also stripped of the 2005 and 2006 titles.