'King of Paparazzi' - Controversial man at centre of football's gambling scandal
Italian football’s betting scandal is being driven by a former “King of the Paparazzi" who went to prison for blackmailing players, politicians and celebrities.
And Fabrizio Corona has claimed that gambling is an “addiction like cocaine” in the game.
The Sicilian first revealed the involvement of Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli who has now been banned for seven months for illegally betting on matches. And Corona’s website Dillinger News last week revealed that Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo of Aston Villa were also under investigation - causing both players to be pulled out of Italy’s squad to face Malta and Italy.
Corona has threatened to identify more players involved in illegal gambling - Roma full-back Nicola Zalewski is now suing after he was named at the weekend - and out Serie A players who are homosexual.
Corona has long been a controversial figure in Italy for his involvement in the 2007 Vallettpoli extortion racket where the famous were photographed in compromising situations - and then blackmailed. "I am like Robin Hood," Corona claimed then but added. "I steal from the rich and I give to myself.”
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He spent time in prison in 2007 and 2015 before being placed under house arrest.
His shady past and his links with gambling companies have not prevented him again dominating the sporting headlines over the last week as he insisted the problem is widespread - and the mainstream media have no appetite to investigate.
Corona was interviewed by Turin prosecutors before the raid on the Italy training base in Tuscany last Thursday. And in an interview with Corriere della Sera, he claimed: “There are also more international players involved and chairmen too. We are not just talking about Serie A, but B and C too.
“At least 10 other footballers, five-six agents and there are also clandestine gambling dens involved. Do you know what the problem is? That these players are sick. Gambling addiction is an addiction like cocaine. They are exploited by the system.
"First they play slot machines, blackjack, then gambling dens and become victims of the underworld. I know about these but there will be many others. They never would have gone there if Dillinger hadn't mentioned the names. This is the first time I've worked with the Prosecutor's Office, let's say not as an infamous person. I spent seven years in prison!”
Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United (Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)The soap opera continued with an appearance on Italian TV station RAI3 on Wednesday night where he claimed he had evidence that Zalewski placed bets on tennis matches and he had “audio” proving Zaniolo gambled.
He also named Serie A star Stephan El Shaarawy, Federico Gatti and Nicolò Casale. All three are now threatening legal action.
Corona said: “I could give you lots of names, but I work for money. I do it for money, so pay me.”
The interview was cut short and Corona claimed he was being censored and not given the chance to give evidence to back up his claims. Inter Milan fan Corona justified outing gay players - Cagliari’s Jakub Jankto is the only openly gay player in Serie A - by saying: “We are in a ‘new’ era with everyone talking about gay rights, so why are there no openly gay players? Why will they not admit it?”
Corona told Corriere della Sera his source was “the uncle of a former Inter player, who is close friends with Mario Balotelli” - revealed to be former Inter youth team player Antonio Esposito.
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Asked what he had to gain, one of Corona’s colleagues claimed the website - named after American gangster John Dillinger - was now worth “€1m”. Corona added: “In a week we have become a point of reference for all information. Today in Italy there are only two things: Hamas and this. And this was done by the Dillinger gang.
"We are information outlaws who risk our lives."
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