The veteran trainer admits his opinion of former Italy international Cristiano Doni has changed for the worse, while Stefano Mauri has protested his innocence regarding allegations
SOURCE: GOAL, TG1
Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni has voiced his displeasure at the negative impact created by the recent betting scandal in Italian football.
In response to Cristiano Doni's admission to charges of match-fixing on Tuesday, the 72-year-old told TG1 that he had always believed his former national team protege was an intelligent man but confessed that his view of him has taken a turn for the worse.
"I thought he was intelligent, I've changed my mind because he wasn't to end up where he is," said Trapattoni.
However, the former Juventus, Bayern Munich and Italy boss says he is more aggrieved at how he and his fellow Italians who work outside the peninsula have also seen their reputations tarnished, namely 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.
"A system exists, not only an Italian one, that whomever 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."
Meanwhile, the agent of Lazio midfielder Stefano Mauri has denied his involvement in the betting ring after claims had arisen that the 31-year-old was part of the scandal.
"With regards to today's news on the investigation into illegal football bets run by Cremona's public prosecutors' office, Tiziano Gonzaga, agent to football player Stefano Mauri, states that the player is not in any way involved in the activities being investigated," reads a statement.
