Buffon scandal: Malta company says it is clean
Betclass Ltd, the Maltese company involved in the Italian football betting scandal in which Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is implicated, declared that there is nothing irregular in its football betting activities.
On Monday, maltastar.com reported that Italian authorities would be looking into Buffon’s betting with a Malta company. Italian law prohibits professional footballers from gambling. When this e-newspaper contacted the company, Betclass Ltd, a spokesperson said that in reply to our questions, a press release would be issued on the company’s own site. Three days later, the statement was issued on the Italian version of Betclass’s website.
Betclass defends itself
In the statement, accompanied by a photo of Gianluigi Buffon sitting by his goalpost, Betclass washed its hands clean of the case.
Mr Marco Ripamonti, the company’s lawyer, wrote: “
Betclass Ltd will not give out the list of the professional footballers amongst its users and after analysing the betting records, it has resulted that there is nothing that can be regarded as abnormal or suspicious.”
Sources close to the company told this newspaper that the Parma prosecution authorities have not yet contacted Betclass Ltd. Italian newspapers had reported that the investigators looking into the sports betting by four football players are preparing to request permission to view the accounts of the companies involved, including the Maltese-registered, but foreign-owned, Betclass Ltd. This company holds offices in Malta.
No contact yet
Other sources also told maltastar.com that when such a cross border investigation is required, the Italian investigators will have to seek the Maltese government’s permission before looking into the Maltese company’s books. “But Maltese authorities have not yet been contacted”.
The scandal that rocked Italian football a few weeks before the World Cup finals was extensively reported on Italian media. Reports accounted how Gianluigi Buffon, Italy’s number one goalie, placed his bets through an agent in Parma, Roberto Barbieri. When interviewed, Barbieri said that he received the footballer’s requests via sms. “I sent [Buffon’s] money to a Maltese company, Betclass”.
Editorial Note
Following maltastar.com’s report on this scandal on Monday, lots of Maltese football fans sent us e-mails expressing concern about the fate of their beloved team Juventus.
Yet, Italian football fans can put their minds at ease. Gianluigi Buffon has been included in the Italian mister’s squad that will travel to Germany for the World Cup finals. A very similar scandal hit the Italy World Cup squad years back. In 1982, to be exact. To all Italian football fans out there – get wise, and check out who took the World Cup home that year!
http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=2993
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So nice news
