Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti believes domestic football in the country needs a break of 'two to three years' to allow match-fixing to be cleansed from the sport.
A second match-fixing scandal in six years is currently gripping Italy, with the latest stage of a probe carried out by Cremona prosecutors on Monday resulting in the arrests of 19 people, among them Lazio captain Stefano Mauri.
"We must reflect and evaluate if it would not be useful to have a total suspension of the game for two to three years," Monti told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"This is not a government proposal, but it is something that I, who have been for many years a football fan, feel inside me.
"It is particularly sad when a world such as sport that should be an expression of high values, proves to appear a concentration of the most reprehensible aspects such as disloyalty, illegality and falseness."
Also among those under investigation is Italy international Domenico Criscito, who was considered a certainty to make the Azzurri's Euro 2012 squad but has since been dropped.
Monday's operation is part of an investigation called "Last Bet", which focuses on 33 games over the past two seasons, the majority of which were in Serie B.
Earlier this month, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) released a comprehensive 48-page list naming 22 clubs along with 61 individuals that have been reported to the football authorities in connection with a match-fixing ring and betting investigation.
The latest inquiry is a big blow to football in Italy, which had gradually been recovering from the scandal that rocked the nation six years ago. In 2006, a match-fixing probe led to Juventus being stripped of two titles and relegation to Serie B after they were found guilty of influencing referees.
"There is bitterness and sadness for what has happened," FIGC president Giancarlo Abete said. "It is totally unacceptable. This latest situation makes us reflect because there have been certain elements that have managed to enter the sporting system."
Source: PA
