20 Dec 2011

More arrests in Italian football investigation

6:00 am on 20 December 2011

Italian police have arrested 17 people in connection with a football match-fixing and betting investigation.

Those arrested include former Atalanta and Italy midfielder Cristiano Doni.

The arrests were carried out in several cities in Italy after an initial investigation by magistrates in the northern city of Cremona.

Those arrested and accused of match-fixing had contacts with criminal groups in Singapore and Eastern Europe, according to police.

The investigation was a follow-up to a previous one earlier this year by the football authorities, which led to suspensions and bans for several players, including Doni, who was banned from football for three and a half years by the Italian Football Federation's disciplinary committee.

Atalanta, who had been promoted to Serie A at the end of last season, were given a six-point penalty. Doni has maintained that he is innocent.