This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

Napoli face the prospect of heavy sanctions after the Italian football federation (FIGC) confirmed it is investigating allegations of match-fixing at the Serie A club.

The club's former goalkeeper Matteo Gianello, now a free agent, has been accused of attempting to fix the outcome of Napoli's Serie A match at Sampdoria in 2010, with the defenders Gianluca Grava and Paolo Cannavaro standing accused of failing to report the incident having been approached.

"The FIGC can confirm that, following an investigation by the public prosecutor of Naples, the federal prosecutor will open disciplinary proceedings in relation to the Sampdoria-Napoli match of 16 May, 2010," read a FIGC statement. "Matteo Gianello, Napoli's former player, and Silvio Giusti, Napoli's former coach, are accused of violating Article 7 [sections 1, 2 and 5] of the sporting code of justice.

"Between them, they are accused of attempting to alter the outcome of the match to secure a victory for Sampdoria in exchange for money. [They are] also accused of having approached colleagues Paolo Cannavaro and Gianluca Grava, from whom they received a refusal.

"But Cannavaro and Grava stand accused of violating Article 7 [section 7], in failing to disclose the approach to the federal prosecutor."

Napoli have also been deferred as the club involved at the time, and could face a points deduction.

The Juventus head coach Antonio Conte was handed a 10-month suspension in August, subsequently reduced to four months on appeal, for his failure to report match-fixing while in charge of Siena.

Conte's former club subsequently accepted a six-point deduction for their role in the 'Calcioscommesse' scandal, with a host of sides from both Serie A, B and the Lega Pro receiving demotions, points penalties and fines across a turbulent summer in Italy.

The former Bari defender Andrea Masiello was given a 22-month suspended prison sentence after admitting scoring an own goal during a relegation decider, with the former Siena defender Emmanuele Pesoli chaining himself to the headquarters of the FIGC for four days in protest against a three-year ban.