Round-up: Vicenza goalkeeper Paolo Acerbis (left) was one of 19 arrested in dawn raids on Monday

Paolo Rossi was one of many players caught up in the 1980 betting scandal but his three-year ban was conveniently cut short, enabling him to score six goals as Italy lifted the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

More corruption was exposed in the build-up to Mexico ’86 and again 20 years later, on the eve of Italy reclaiming the World Cup in Germany, when Juventus — one of four Serie A clubs implicated in the scandal — were relegated and stripped of two of their titles.

That did not stop Juve celebrating what they claimed as a 30th scudetto earlier this month at the end of Antonio Conte’s first season in charge, even though the official figure is 28.

Conte is also under investigation after officers searched his house and removed a computer on Monday. This followed allegations by the former Siena player Filippo Carobbio that Conte, then coach of the Serie B team, knew of a plot to arrange the outcome of a game against Novara in April last year.

The wide-ranging investigation has already resulted in former Lazio and Italy striker Giuseppe Signori becoming one of 16 players to be banned for match-fixing.

Current Lazio skipper Stefano Mauri was arrested on Monday  and reports in Italy suggest that Christian Vieri, once the world’s most expensive player, will also face investigation.

Judge Guido Salvini will begin questioning those arrested on Monday to determine whether  formal charges can be brought.

But the finger of suspicion points to so many players across so many clubs that many fear he is just scratching the surface of arguably the murkiest league in world football.

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