Former Atalanta captain Doni arrested in match-fixing inquiry

Former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni and 16 other people have been arrested across Italy in an ongoing investigation into match-fixing and illegal betting on games, according to reports.

The ANSA news agency and the Gazzetta dello Sport report that the inquiry is focused on several matches in Serie B over the past two seasons - with three of the matches including Atalanta.

Three Serie A matches from last season are also reportedly under investigation: Brescia vs. Bari, Brescia vs. Lecce and Napoli vs. Sampdoria.

Others arrested reportedly include former Inter Milan and Roma player Luigi Sartor, former Serie B player Alessandro Zamperini and active players Carlo Gervasoni of Piacenza and Filippo Carobbio of Spezia.

Charges reportedly include criminal association and sporting fraud.

In June, 16 people were arrested as part of the inquiry, which is being led by prosecutors in Cremona, and Doni was then placed under investigation.

In August, Doni was banned from football for three and a half years by the Italian football federation's disciplinary committee and Atalanta - which was promoted to Serie A for this season - were given a six-point penalty.

Doni has maintained that he is innocent.

Prosecutors in Cremona have scheduled a press conference for 10:30 a.m. local time (0930 GMT) to discuss the operation.