The name given to the latest scandal to engulf Italian football on the eve of the European Championship is Scommessopoli.

In the 1980s they called it Totonero, and six years ago Calciopoli. The names change, but, sadly, the stench of corruption that has hung over the sport for decades in Italy refuses to go away.

And the Italian premier Mario Monti went so far as to propose that all football should be suspended in the country for up to three years to try to eradicate the problems and make a fresh start.

Powerful message: Mario Monti told his country that football should be put on hold

‘It’s not a proposal by the government but a question I’m asking as someone who was passionate when football was still football,’ said Monti, standing alongside the prime minister of Poland, the Euro 2012 co-hosts who will kick off the tournament in Warsaw a week on Friday.

Italy start their Group C campaign against holders Spain in Gdansk two days later, and are likely to have Leonardo Bonucci playing at centre back even though the Juventus defender has been implicated in the current match-fixing scandal.
Bonucci was not among the 19 arrests made in Italy and Hungary after a series of dawn raids on Monday — bringing the total to 50 since a special match-fixing task force was set up last year — but he is expected to face questioning relating to his spell with Bari two years ago.

Many more prominent figures have been placed under investigation, including defender Domenico Criscito, who will miss Euro 2012 after police searched his room at Italy’s Coverciano base just outside Florence on Monday.

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