Italian football president Giancarlo Abete has rejected the suggestion that football in Italy should be suspended for up to three years in a order to weed out match-fixing from the game.

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has been warned he must “mature” before he can return to the Italy team.

Italian football chief Giancarlo Abete has called a meeting in Rome tomorrow in an attempt to avoid the Serie A strike planned for this weekend.

Italy striker Mario Balotelli has admitted he is growing weary of hearing racist abuse when playing football.

Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giancarlo Abete is optimistic a compromise can be reached to prevent a strike from Serie A players on the weekend of September 25-26.

FIORENTINA coach Cesare Prandelli has signed a four-year contract to take over as Italy boss when Marcello Lippi steps down after the World Cup.

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli moved a step closer to taking over as Italy boss today with reports suggesting he has signed a four-year contract to succeed Marcello Lippi after the World Cup.

QPR’s Martin Rowlands has been called into the Irish squad as Giovanni Trapattoni continues to sweat on a number of players who are nursing injuries in the run-up to Saturday’s big game against Italy at Croke Park.

Italy football federation president Giancarlo Abete is hoping his national team can this weekend confirm their place at next year’s World Cup finals.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi yesterday dismissed reports linking him with a return to Juventus.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi will not call up a replacement for injured striker Antonio Di Natale.

ITALY have indefinitely banned their own supporters from away games after trouble flared during the Azzurri’s goalless draw in Bulgaria on Saturday.

Giovanni Trapattoni believes the Italian Football Federation will never be able to prevent the country’s supporters from watching their national team away from home.

Italy have indefinitely banned their own supporters from away games after trouble flared during the Azzurri’s goalless draw in Bulgaria on Saturday.

ITALY coach Roberto Donadoni will find out his fate “in the next few days”, the Italian football federation confirmed yesterday.

The policeman who accidentally shot and killed a Lazio fan in Italy yesterday has spoken of his regret over the incident.

The Italian football delegation are despondent after losing the race to host Euro 2012.

Italy’s football supremo on Thursday defended the policemen on duty at the Stadio Olimpico for the clash between Roma and Manchester United.

SATURDAY night’s 1-1 draw between Roma and Milan in Rome lived up to its billing as a possible dress rehearsal for the Champions League semi-final.

WORLD CUP-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro has paid a glowing tribute to Marcello Lippi, who yesterday made an “irrevocable” decision to step down as coach of Italy.

ITALIAN coach Marcello Lippi expects Daniele De Rossi to receive some harsh punishment for elbowing US forward Brian McBride in the face.