Intro:

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli tried to side-step questions about match-fixing in Italian football on Thursday (31st May) as he put the final touches to his preparations ahead of Euro 2012, which begins on June 8th.

Script:

Italy's national football team continues to be dogged by questions over match fixing and racism as they prepare for the Euro 2012 tournament this summer.

Fifty-two Italian football players appeared in court in Rome on Thursday, charged with involvement in match fixing.

At a news conference in Coverciano, the headquarters of the Italian football team, coach Cesare Prandelli tried to avoid directly commenting on what could turn out to be the biggest football corruption case in Italian sporting history.

SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Cesare Prandelli, Italy coach:

"Obviously we reflected on certain statements, I said earlier in other interviews that I would like to go into a club where there is maximum tolerance for what concerns people. I think it's wrong to go back to the issue of match fixing. I think each one of us has his own conscience, his own way of doing things. If we really want to talk for a moment on this situation regarding what concerns me, I feel a little bit embarrassed to defend certain 'nerdy' people. That's it."

In 2006, another match-fixing scandal cast a dark shadow over Italian football with Juventus relegated and stripped of two league titles after being found guilty of influencing referees.

Even so, the Italians won the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Prandelli and his Italian team will be hoping for another major tournament win when they begin their Euro 2012 campaign on June 10th.