Serie A defender arrested over match-fixing suspicion

Rome, April 3 (IANS) Defender Andrea Masiello of Italian Serie A football club Atalanta has been arrested for alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal.

In addition to Masiello, who was a Bari defender at the time of the alleged fraud, two friends of his were arrested Monday on suspicion of having participated in the fixing of some matches during last Serie A season.

A number of other notable players have been put under investigation following warrants issued by magistrates in the southern city of Bari, Xinhua reported.

The arrests were made as part of so-called "Last Bet" operation, which has until now led to the arrest of many people throughout Italy, including well-known players such as former Lazio forward Beppe Signori and former Atalanta striker Cristiano Doni.

Investigators said the results of several Serie A and Serie B matches were influenced over the past two seasons.

The scandal came five years after the Italian police uncovered a complex network of managers, players and organizations rigging matches in Serie A and B.

Last June, the Italian interior ministry had set up a special task force to look into sporting frauds which includes police and anti-mafia officers.