Italy would withdraw from Euro 2012 'if asked'

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli said on Friday that his side would withdraw from Euro 2012 if asked to, following the country's latest match-fixing scandal, which some of his players have been linked to. "If they said to us that the national team must not go to the European championships for the good of soccer, it wouldn't be a problem," Prandelli told Rai television before his men face Russia in Zurich in a pre-tournament friendly later on Friday. Prandelli dropped Zenit Saint Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito from his squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine on Monday after the player's room at Italy's training camp was searched by police and he was serviced notice he is under investigation for suspected wrongdoing during his stint at his former side, Genoa. But Juventus centre back Leonardo Bonucci remains in the squad, even though he is also being probed, as he has not received official notification of an investigation. On Thursday reports emerged that Italy captain and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon allegedly engaged in illegal gambling to the tune of 1.5 million euros, according to Turin tax police records released Thursday. Buffon, who made headlines Wednesday by criticising the way the probe was being handled and how information was being leaked to the press, is not under investigation, judicial sources told ANSA. Soccer players are banned from betting on games even if there is no match-fixing involved. Italian Premier Mario Monti said on Tuesday that, in his personal opinion, it might be best to stop professional soccer in Italy for a two or three years in the light of the scandal. Prandelli hit back Friday, suggesting his side were the targets of a "crusade". "I don't like crusades. I like discussion, not the taking up of stances without thinking about the consequences," the coach added. "I'd like to talk just about soccer, but what's happening has imposed something else. "As for the players, I continue to say that those involved will not go to the European championships. "As for Buffon's mood, he has great personality, but even a person like him can be weighed down by a difficult moment like this". Juve boss Antonio Conte is also being probed for alleged wrongdoing related to when he was in charge of Siena in the second tier in the 2010-11 season, making him one of around 150 people from the world of Italian soccer to be under investigation. Lazio midfielder Stefano Mauri was among 14 people arrested on Monday. The scandal has rocked Italian soccer again six years after Juventus were relegated and stripped of two Serie A titles for involvement in attempts to arrange compliant referees for some teams' games. That scandal, which was called Calciopoli, exploded shortly before the 2006 World Cup, which Italy won.