Bans handed out in match-fixing probe

Two Serie A players have been issued with bans as part of a probe into match-fixing offences.

Paulo Vitor de Souza of Torino and Giovanni Marchese of Genoa were given suspensions of three months and 10 days and fined €10,000 after the Italian Football Federation accepted plea bargains from the pair.

Davide Lanzafame, who spent last season on loan at Hungarian side Honved and is now a free agent, has been handed a 16-month ban and a €40,000 fine.

The suspensions relate to games involving Bari in Serie B in 2008-09 and in Serie A in 2010-11.

De Souza and Marchese were suspended for failing to report alleged match-fixing in Bari’s clash with Salernitana in May 2009.

The prosecution, headed by federal prosecutor Stefano Palazzi, has also accused the parties implicated of throwing games against Sampdoria and Palermo to earn €140,000.