Trapattoni angered by betting scandal

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is unhappy Italian football’s betting scandal is tarnishing Italian coaches abroad.

The former Juventus, Bayern Munich and Italy boss is aggrieved at how he and his Italian countrymen who work outside the country have had their reputations stained because of the investigation into fixing of matches in Italy.

Trapattoni told TG1 on Wednesday he was disappointed with being associated with the ‘Italian mafia’ stereotype.

“There is (a certain) bitterness. I’m referring to us, the coaches who work abroad. Certainly, there is a feeling of bitterness because we end up a little tainted as Italian cheats. The first word they say is ‘Italian mafia’ and that is really displeasing,” he said.

“A system exists, not only an Italian one, that whoever bets is part of the game, but those who don’t have a part in that rule are the footballers.”

“If a system exists in which the matches are manipulated and rigged, it’s a slap which damages our football.”

In response to Cristiano Doni’s admission to charges of match-fixing on Tuesday, the 72-year-old Trapattoni said he had always believed his former national team protege was an intelligent man.

But he said his view of Doni had changed.

“I thought he was intelligent, I’ve changed my mind because he wasn’t to end up where he is,” Trapattoni said.

Meanwhile, the agent of Lazio midfielder Stefano Mauri has denied claim’s his client had been involved in the betting scandal.

“With regards to today’s news on the investigation into illegal football bets run by Cremona’s public prosecutors’ office, Tiziano Gonzaga, agent of football player Stefano Mauri, states that the player is not in any way involved in the activities being investigated,” a statement from the agent read.