Italian officials, clubs sent to tribunal

ROME, Aug 9 (Reuters) -- The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Monday ordered 33 people and 12 clubs to face a sporting tribunal over allegations of illegal betting and match-fixing in Serie A and lower division games.

The news represented a serious blow for Italy's favourite sport, which has been buffeted by a string of financial and legal scandals in recent seasons. Among the clubs accused of "illicit sporting behaviour" were Sampdoria, Chievo, Siena and Modena, who were all in Serie A last season. Modena were eventually relegated.

Sampdoria defender Stefano Bettarini, who has played for Italy, and Modena midfielder Antonio Marasco also faced charges of illicit sporting behaviour.

All those named by the FIGC have denied wrongdoing.

A spokesman for the FIGC said the sporting tribunal would meet some time after August 15 and would reach a verdict before the Serie A season kicks off on September 12.

If found guilty, clubs could be fined, have points docked or be relegated. Players, coaches and club executives faced sanctions ranging from fines to bans from professional soccer.

The FIGC launched its investigation after Naples-based anti-mafia police announced they were looking into suspected match-fixing relating to games in Serie A, B and C.

A source close to the investigation said in May that they had telephone evidence indicating that players were involved with illegal betting activities on specific games.

Naples police are continuing their probe, working separately from the FIGC.

Among the suspect results cited by FIGC on Monday were a 1-0 victory for Modena over Sampdoria on April 25, this year, a 2-0 victory for Chievo over Modena on May 2 and a 1-1 draw between Siena and Chievo on March 21.

"That was a real game," Siena chairman Paolo De Luca told Ansa news agency on Monday. "If Chievo and Siena fixed that game then all the players deserve an Oscar," he added.

FIGC rules prevent players or officials from taking part in any form of gambling on games, even through the official state monopoly Totocalcio.

Italian football 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 football are currently underway, focusing on false accounting and suspicion of fraud.

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