Sampdoria and Modena have been drawn into an investigation into mafia-linked illegal betting and match-fixing in Serie A and lower division Italian matches.
Sampdoria defender Stefano Bettarini, who played in Italy's friendly in February against the Czech Republic, and Modena midfielder Antonio Marasco were among six new people named in the probe by Naples-based police.
"I have asked my lawyers to make a request that I be questioned as soon as possible," Bettarini said on Sampdoria's official website on Friday.
"We are dealing with hypotheses that are totally alien to the way I view sport and loyalty, and I must reaffirm that I have always played with complete respect for the faith accorded in me by the club and the fans."
In a statement, Sampdoria confirmed police had visited their offices to acquire documents and information relating to the investigation. The club stressed that "no charge has been made against any director of the club".
Earlier this month, police began investigations into 12 clubs.
Serie A clubs Chievo, Lecce and Reggina were among those being probed. Each said that while their offices had been visited, neither they nor any of their players had been formally placed under investigation and no documents had been taken away.
Italian soccer was hit by a gambling and match-fixing scandal in the early 1980s and there have been several smaller cases since.
A number of unrelated investigations into Italian soccer are currently underway, focusing on false accounting and suspicion of fraud.
Reuters - 21/05/04
Sampdoria defender Stefano Bettarini, who played in Italy's friendly in February against the Czech Republic, and Modena midfielder Antonio Marasco were among six new people named in the probe by Naples-based police.
"I have asked my lawyers to make a request that I be questioned as soon as possible," Bettarini said on Sampdoria's official website on Friday.
"We are dealing with hypotheses that are totally alien to the way I view sport and loyalty, and I must reaffirm that I have always played with complete respect for the faith accorded in me by the club and the fans."
In a statement, Sampdoria confirmed police had visited their offices to acquire documents and information relating to the investigation. The club stressed that "no charge has been made against any director of the club".
Earlier this month, police began investigations into 12 clubs.
Serie A clubs Chievo, Lecce and Reggina were among those being probed. Each said that while their offices had been visited, neither they nor any of their players had been formally placed under investigation and no documents had been taken away.
Italian soccer was hit by a gambling and match-fixing scandal in the early 1980s and there have been several smaller cases since.
A number of unrelated investigations into Italian soccer are currently underway, focusing on false accounting and suspicion of fraud.
Reuters - 21/05/04
