Conte probed over match-fixing, more arrests

Juventus boss Antonio Conte has been put under investigation and Lazio forward Stefano Mauro was among 14 people arrested on Monday as part of the latest operation related to the 'Last Bet' match-fixing probe, ANSA sources said. Italy defender Domenico Criscito, a former Genoa player who now belongs to Russian champions Zenit Saint Petersburg, is also being probed, the sources said following a police search at the Azzurri's training camp near Florence, where they are preparing for Euro 2012. In addition to the 14 people detained - one of whom is a Hungarian who was already in custody in his homeland - three others have been put under house arrest and two more have to regularly show themselves to the judicial authorities. Last week Conte signed a new three-year deal with Juve after guiding the Turin giants to the Serie A title in his first year in charge and leading them to the Italian Cup final. Investigators are looking into alleged wrongdoing related to when he was in charge of Siena in the second tier in the 2010-11 season. "Conte's reaction was that of a person who has absolutely no involvement in the affair and who is determined to show that he has the acts he is accused of have nothing to do with him," said Conte's lawyer Antonio De Rencis. Conte is being probed into alleged sporting fraud and criminal association to commit fraud. The former Italy and Juve midfielder said in April that the allegations were a "joke". Siena midfielder Filippo Carobbio, who was arrested in December for alleged involved in the scandal, told prosecutors that Conte knew about an agreement to draw a match with Novara in April 2011. Over 40 people have been arrested as part of investigations into gambling-related match-fixing in Serie A and the lower tiers since 'Last Bet' went public last year. They include former Italy internationals Beppe Signori and Cristiano Doni, and Atalanta defender Andrea Masiello, who admitted deliberately scoring an own goal to ensure his former side Bari lost 2-0 to Lecce in the 2010-11 campaign, when they were relegated to Serie B. "This news is devasting," Ireland boss and former Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni told state broadcaster Rai on Monday when asked to comment on the latest developments in the Last Bet investigation. "If the magistrates are taking action, it is because there is something certain". The new case has rocked the Italian soccer world again after Juventus were relegated and stripped of two Serie A titles for involvement in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal in 2006.