Capello in corruption trial probe



Fabio Capello
The England coach appeared as a witness in the Rome court

An Italian prosecutor plans to bring a criminal case against England coach Fabio Capello for allegedly withholding information in a corruption trial.

He was a witness in the trial of six men accused of conspiring to control transfers by intimidating players into signing for a sports management firm.

The state prosecutor believes he was evasive in the evidence he gave.

Mr Capello's lawyers said he was certain "he had given all the information required of him".

They said they were confident "everything will soon be completely cleared".

In a statement, they said: "Mr Capello made it clear that he has never been involved in the conclusion of professional football players' contracts, and has only limited and indirect knowledge of this subject."

Newspaper interview

The court case, which is ongoing, relates to the GEA World sports agency.

The former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi, who was at the centre of Italy's match-fixing scandal in 2006, and Davide Lippi, son of the former Italy coach Marcello, are among the defendants.

The England coach worked under Mr Moggi at Juventus until 2006, but it was his time in charge of Roma between 1999 and 2004 which most interested the court.

In court, he denied having been put under pressure over the management of players during his time at Juventus and Roma.

Mr Capello, 61, was also asked about an interview he gave to the Corriere dello Sport newspaper about GEA and their alleged monopoly of players.

In that interview the coach said he knew many players were "gravitating towards that company".

Poor recollection

But when asked further in court about the interview, and details he had given in the initial inquiry, the England coach was less forthcoming.

Mr Capello is not thought to have lied, but the prosecutor believes he was evasive and at times obstructive in the evidence he gave.

At times he said he could not remember or recall specific details.

The prosecutor said he would now seek to bring a new case of withholding information against both Mr Capello and Antonio Giraudo, a former Juventus director, who also gave evidence.

I have lost count on how many big name Italians have been arrested for there tax dodging.

I knew he wasn't 100% cosher when he agreed to taking the job of England manager.

Ah just what the England team needs at the moe!! Abit of Scandal!!