I’ll kill myself if found guilty

Former Italy and AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has rejected accusations of his alleged involvement in match-fixing and dramatically claimed he would kill himself if found guilty.

Gattuso, a 2006 World Cup winner who played for Rangers in the late 1990s, was yesterday named by Italian media in a probe being carried out by Cremona’s prosecuting office.

Ex-Lazio midfielder Cristian Brocchi is included in the investigation, according to reports.

Both face allegations that they were involved in a betting ring that fixed Serie A and other Italian games in the 2010-11 campaign.

Gattuso said: “Never have I ever had the slightest thought about possibly fixing a game. If something was proven I would be willing to go out into the street and, I know this is a strong thing to say, I would kill myself.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I can’t stand to lose even a practice game, not even a game of cards with my friends.

“I’m angry and offended. I want to clear everything up so I don’t have a stain on my career. I have never gambled in my life.”

Reports in Italy claim Gattuso and Brocchi had telephone contact with people arrested on Monday night.

The four taken into custody are charged with sporting fraud as part of ‘Last Bet’ operation, an investigation that began in 2010 and that has already led to 54 arrests, including current and former Italian players.