Atalanta, Doni in prosecutor´s sights

Atalanta and captain Cristiano Doni are facing heavy sanctions as the investigation into the Italian football betting scandal continues.

Serie A club Atalanta – who are tipped to struggle against relegation after promotion from Serie B in 2010/11 – could start the new campaign with a seven-point deduction under recommendations from an Italian prosecutor.

The career of captain Doni, 38, has been placed in jeopardy after prosecutor Stefano Palazzi recommended he receive a three-and-a-half year suspension for his alleged involvement in the ‘Last Bet’ betting scandal that rocked Italian football in June.

La Gazzetta dello Sport claim Palazzi has asked the Italian FA (FIGC) to hand down the sanctions to Doni and Atalanta, while he also made recommendations on other players and administrators linked to the scandal.

Former Italy international Giuseppe Signori faces a lifetime ban from football, while Atalanta’s Thomas Manfredini is looking at a three-year suspension

The sanctions all relate to a criminal case brought forward to the tribunal of Cremona by prosecutors, who claim to have uncovered an illegal betting ring involving a number of footballers and officials.

It is alleged Doni and Signori were part of the ring and took payments from a criminal gang to help fix several matches.