Coach says Italy could stay home from Euro 2012

[June 01, 2012]  ROME (AP) -- Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says it wouldn't bother him if his team withdraws from the European Championship while Italian soccer is engulfed in a huge match-fixing scandal.

The investigation into corruption led to 19 arrests this week, with Zenit St. Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito dropped from Prandelli's squad after being questioned at the national team's training headquarters.

Financial police also examined the banking records of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on suspicion he made large bets, but news reports say he has been cleared of wrongdoing.

Prandelli spoke to RaiSport in Zurich, where Italy will play Russia in an exhibition match, its last warm-up before leaving for Poland.

He says, "If you told us that for the good of football we should not participate, it wouldn't be a problem for me."

[Associated Press]

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