Italian football clubs to face match-fixing probe

More than 20 football teams are to be informed that they are facing investigation as an Italian inquiry into match-fixing reaches a new phase.

The Italian football federation said 61 people, including 52 active players, would also be told they will have to answer questions over the allegations.

More than 30 arrests have been made in investigations into match-fixing over the past year in Italy.

Prosecutors are studying suspicious results in 33 matches.

The probe could lead to another damaging trial, similar to the one in 2006 that saw Juventus relegated to Serie B and other major clubs suffer points reductions.

The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says prosecutors have for many months been looking at allegations that players have collaborated with underworld gambling interests to manipulate results.

He says most of the games involved were in the second division but some in the prestigious top flight - Serie A - have also been tainted by the scandal.

Andrea Masiello, a former player for the southern club Bari, recently admitted to scoring an own goal in return for tens of thousands of euros. At the time, last season, his side were still in the top division.

Of the 61 people, 52 are active players, two are non-active, four are club officials and three are coaches.

In other high-profile cases, former Italy player Cristiano Doni was banned for three-and-a-half years while Giuseppe Signori was banned for five years for their part in the "Calcioscommesse" match-fixing and betting scandal.