Italian Clubs Targeted for Match Fixing

Police raided the headquarters of 12 Italian soccer clubs Tuesday, including several from the elite Serie A, as part of a nationwide organized crime match-fixing investigation.

Thirteen people, including five players and a convicted mafia boss are under investigation, according to Italian news reports. They face charges of criminal association and sports fraud.

Italy’s anti-mafia police conducted the raids and seized documents from 12 clubs, according to a statement released by AC Siena, one of the Serie A teams raided. The other Serie A clubs raided by police were Chievo, Verona, Lecce and Reggina.

Police said organized crime used the Internet to rig matches, according to the statement released by Siena. The club, which said it is the victim of match-fixing, also announced it had suspended two players who are among the 13 people under investigation.

The investigation stemmed from telephone taps that indicated there had been attempts to fix matches in Italy’s top three leagues, including Serie A. The raids were conducted in 14 cities around the country early Tuesday morning.

Lillo Foti, president of Reggina, said his club was not under investigation but was informed of the probe. He also acknowledged that documents were taken from the club’s headquarters.

Going Nowhere?

Despite persistent rumors to the contrary, David Beckham and Ronaldo are apparently staying with Real Madrid.

“Beckham is not going to leave, we are very happy with him,� Real Madrid director of sports Jorge Valdano told an Italian radio station. “We have very high hopes for him next season.�

Valdano also said Real Madrid would not part with Ronaldo, who scored 24 goals this season. After failing to win the Spanish league title and getting knocked out of the Champions League, it had been speculated that Real Madrid might dump Beckham and Ronaldo as part of an off-season roster makeover.

“There is nothing in that story,� Valdano said.

More Rumor Mill

Chelsea, said to be among the teams trying to bring Beckham back to England next season, has reportedly set its sights on Real Madrid’s Robert Carlos. The Brazilian defender confirmed that Chelsea has contacted his advisors, but said he would insist on a four-year contract extension after his current deal ends after next season.

Like Real Madrid, Chelsea has had a disappointing season. The London club failed to win league or club championships and was eliminated in the semifinals of the Champions League.

Liverpool Fight

Steve Morgan, Liverpool’s third-largest shareholder, said he would fight a bid from Thailand’s prime minister to buy a one-third share in the English club. Morgan has upped his offer for a share of the club from $87.5 million to $127.8 million.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra agreed to a $100-million deal with a Liverpool delegation led by chief executive Rick Parry.

Galaxy Update

Mauricio Cienfuegos, who retired after last season, will be honored with a farewell match June 5 at the Home Depot Center before a rescheduled game involving the Galaxy and Kansas City Wizards.

The game will match a team of former club teammates and standouts from Cienfuegos’ native El Salvador against an MLS team featuring former Galaxy players Paul Caligiuri and Jorge Campos.

The Galaxy also announced that Cienfuegos would re-join the club as a “Soccer and Business Ambassador� to the community.

-- Compiled by Elliott Teaford