Nine arrested in Italian betting scandal

November 23, 2009

Nine people have been arrested, accused of illegal betting in Italian football, police said on Monday.

Amongst those arrested was the president of third division team Potenza, Giuseppe Postiglione and Pro Vastese sports director Luca Evangelista.

They are accused of being involved in organised crime and of sporting fraud relating to a number of bets placed on matches in the second and third divisions from 2007 to 2009.

One match under investigation is the Serie B encounter between Ravenna and Lecce on April 26, 2008, won 3-1 by the away side, on which Postiglione alledgedly placed a bet that won him 86,000 euros.

Giovanni Colangelo, the public prosecutor in Potenza, claimed match-fixing had been taking place.

If that was the case it would be the second such in Italy in the last three years, although the 2006 Calciopoli scandal involved high-profile Serie A teams and resulted in Juventus being relegated to Serie B and stripped of their last two league titles.

AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina and Reggina were also punished for their roles in the match-fixing.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, bet, calciopoli scandal, colangelo, fiorentina, giovanni, giuseppe, high profile, italian football, league titles, lecce, luca evangelista, milan lazio, postiglione, public prosecutor, ravenna, reggina, sports director

Slimline Beckham not thinking of Shilton record

March 26, 2009

WATFORD, England (AFP) – David Beckham revealed Thursday how big an impact his move to AC Milan has had on his fitness as he underlined his desire to play on for England for as long as possible.

Beckham will break Bobby Moore’s outfield record of 108 caps for his country if he plays any part in Saturday’s friendly against Slovakia and the midfielder increasingly looks a good bet to go on and match Peter Shilton’s overall record of 125 international appearance for England.

The 33-year-old is in no doubt that he made the right move by ensuring he was able to stay at Milan until the end of this season, at which point he will return to LA Galaxy for the rest of the MLS season.

"I think it’s improved my fitness more than anything else," Beckham said Thursday.

"I said when I first arrived in Dubai with Milan my body fat was 13.7 and now it’s 8.5 so I think it was more about the fitness side than anything else. But I had to adjust my game to the Italian game as well.

"I had to do that when I moved to Spain (to play for Real Madrid) from Manchester United and I felt it was successful there and obviously in Milan I have enjoyed that part of it."

Beckham insisted he was not thinking about Shilton’s mark.

"I think that every time that I meet up with the team it’s a bonus because being on probably 94, 95 caps I never expected to make 100. Making 100 people expected me to retire then, so to be on 108 now and hopefully get to 109, I’m happy with that.

"I am not looking at Peter Shilton’s record at all at the moment. I take each game as it comes as I know know quickly it can change.

"Obviously being at AC Milan now gives me more of a chance to be at that higher level to play at international level which is always important. But we’ll see. I’m enjoying being with the squad at the moment and hopefully it continues."

Beckham went on to describe Fabio Capello’s current squad as one of the best he has been part of.

"It’s one of the best, without a doubt," he said. "There are times in other squads when I’ve felt exactly the same.

"Playing under Glenn Hoddle was a great squad and obviously with Sven-Goran Eriksson we were successful in terms of qualifying.

"This squad’s different. It’s special because there are so many young, talented players.

"People talk about young players and sometimes say they haven’t got the experience but it doesn’t matter these days. Young players have got that confidence and they only gain experience playing big games.

"The best players – whether they’re young or experienced players – are the ones playing high-level football and the ones here do that week in, week out in the Premiership. The players we’ve got are exceptional talents."

England’s meeting with Slovakia is a warm-up for next Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against the Ukraine, where a win would put Capello’s squad well on their way to South Africa.

Written by: AFP

Tags: ac milan, bet, bobby moore, body fat, caps, David Beckham, Dubai, England, fabio capello, international appearance, italian game, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, midfielder, Milan, mls season, Moore, no doubt, outfield, peter shilton, real madrid, right move, Serie A, South Africa, Spain, Sven Goran Eriksson, ukraine, watford england

Jordan Slates Lucy Pinder and Wants Her Out of the CBB House

January 9, 2009

Jordan who claims to have outgrown getting her claws stuck into other females who could rival her in the looks department, has given Lucy Pinder a tongue lashing.

Jordan says she met Lucy about 10 years ago when she was just starting out, and was happy to give her advice. She says Lucy claimed she would never do glamour modelling but now look at her. Getting them out all over the place! Jordan ranted on claiming, ‘it’s b******s she’s all natural. She used to have a right beak on her, I reckon she’s had her nose done. And I’d say her lips and teeth are fake too’.

Jordan who’s no shrinking violet claimed that beneath Lucy’s skirt is a bloke with b******s. She’s tough. A real bitch.

On a brighter note Jordan is sticking by her drinking buddy Michelle Heaton and says she getting the Price vote. Pete added he thought all Michelle Heaton’s hard work at the gym has paid off as she looked great in that catsuit….very brave words from our Pete, bet he’ll be in the dog house for that little observation!

Go to Source