Five people were arrested in Italy after the discovery of a match-fixing scheme in football games. Among those detained is referee Luigi Catanozzo, who officiated Serie C and youth category matches.
The arrests occurred after the "Operation Penalty"The investigation, led by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Reggio Calabria, has accused those under investigation of organized crime and sports fraud. La Gazzetta dello Sport.
According to authorities, Catanozzo bribed colleagues to influence match results. The amounts paid reached 10 euros per game.
Field handling
The scheme was uncovered after an unusual influx of bets on a match in the Primavera League, a youth competition in Italy. Analysis of the pattern caught the attention of the police, who identified those involved.
The referee convinced other referees to interfere in games through decisions such as penalties and expulsions.. Next, the group would gamble large sums of money to secure substantial profits.
Businessmen involved
Two businessmen from Tuscany, a father and son who owned a betting agency, were also arrested. They financed Catanozzo's activities and placed bets on both official websites and illegal platforms, thus increasing his profits.
Investigations indicate that the referee began by officiating in youth games, but intended to move up to the professional divisions, where the pay would be higher.
