Italian national coach Cesare Prandelli has said that he would have no problem if Italy withdrew from Euro 2012 in order to deal with the latest match fixing scandal to hit the country.
Italy open the tournament against Spain next week but the build up to the tournament has been put in the shade by the arrests of 19 people including Lazio captain Stefano Mauri, while Domenico Criscito was dropped from the squad after the Zenit St Petersburg defender was questioned at the team training camp.
Prime Minister Mario Monti has suggested that a two or three year ban on football may be needed to root out the problem of corruption with legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon’s lawyer last night forced to defend his client from rumours sweeping the country.
Prandelli has the task of trying to lift a squad swamped by suspicion but realises the far bigger issues need adressed.
“If you told us that for the good of football we should not participate, it wouldn’t be a problem for me,” the national coach told RaiSport. “There are things that I believe are more important.
“I dislike crusades. I prefer to face up to things and not take positions without considering the consequences. I would rather only talk about football, but events are conspiring against this.”
Responding to rumours about Buffon his lawyer Marco Valerio Corini told SkyTG24 television: “There is nothing which could even carry the faintest suggestion of a connection between Gianluigi Buffon and any betting activity that would concern him in any irregularity either with respect to federation rules or criminal law.
“There is not the slightest foundation for any suggestion that this is connected with a bet.”
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