Five matches are under investigation as Catania face alleged involvement in the latest match-fixing scandal to hit Italian football.
The Sicilian club’s president Antonino Pulvirenti is the central figure in the case having been accused of orchestrating the fixing of five matches during the 2014/15 season by approaching certain players from opposing teams.
Prosecutor Giovanni Salvi, speaking at a press conference said: “At least five, perhaps six matches” are under scrutiny while seven arrests have been made in addition to the Catania president.
The matches in question include victories over Varese, Trapani, Latina and Ternana, as well as a draw with Livorno that helped the Elefanti stave off relgeation from Serie B.
Those arrested include Alessandro Bernardini of Livorno, Riccardo Fiamozzi of Varese, Antonio Dai of Trapani and Latina’s Matteo Bruscagin. However no Catania players are thought to be involved.
At the same press conference the director of the Italian special branch, Antonella Paglialunga, stated that each player would have received payments of around €10,000.
If found guilty it has been suggested that Catania could face demotion to a lower division, while players and officials are likely to receive hefty fines and bans from the sport.
