Soccer: 16 Serie A, B clubs cited (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, October 28 - Sixteen Serie A and B clubs including Juventus, Inter, Napoli, Lazio and Palermo, were reported to Italian soccer's federal court Friday for a series of violations of code of sporting justice and the regulations governing players' agents, the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) said. Executives and players of the clubs were cited too in the 'Offside' probe conducted by Naples prosecutors, the FIGC said. The probe placed 64 people under investigation including players, agents and executives on suspicion of tax offences, tax evasion and issuing false invoices. Transfer deals reportedly involving Juventus, AC Milan and Lazio were among those suspected of being tainted, police said in January. Finance police searched the premises of some 30 soccer players and agents and seized assets worth 12 million euros in the probe. Those under investigation include former Juventus CEO Jean-Claude Blanc, Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani, Lazio President Claudio Lotito, ex Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, ex Milan, Inter, Chelsea and Parma striker Hernan Crespo, and agent Alessandro Moggi.
    Atalanta defender on loan from Milan and Italy national team player Gabriel Paletta, Torino (on loan from Sevilla) and Italy striker Ciro Immobile, Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino, Atalanta striker German Denis, and ex Pescara player Fernando Quintero are among those under investigation, along with ex-Inter striker Diego Milito and former Fiorentina and Juventus striker Adrian Mutu.
    Naples prosecutors said Crespo evaded two million euros in Italian taxes, agent Moggi evaded one million euros, and Galliani evaded 240,000 euros.
    The probe by Naples prosecutors began in 2012.
    photo: FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio