Monza defender Armando Izzo is facing almost five years in prison for charges in relation to alleged Camorra-linked activity and football betting.
The Anti-Mafia District Directorate of Naples has asked for the player to be jailed for four years and 10 months on charges of external complicity with Camorra associations, as well as two counts of sporting fraud.
The Camorra is an Italian criminal organisation, widely viewed as Mafia-type, which is based and operates primarily within Naples and Campania. It dates back to the 17th century and is a major illegal institution in the region and the country.
As has been reported by Il Fatto Quotidiano, the final request by the prosecutor, Maurizio De Marco, arrived on Thursday. This closed the trial on the alleged football betting which is linked to the Accurso brothers.
Armando Izzo’s time at Avellino
The Accurso brothers are the heads of the Vinella Grassi Camorra clan and the charges are linked to when Izzo was playing for Avellino, a club based in Campania and not far from Naples. They currently play in Serie C/C, sitting 10th in the table.
As well as the charges that have been brought against Izzo, there are also 18-month sentences requested for Salvatore Russo and Umberto Accurso for their role in the alleged football betting.
Details are not currently available as to which games the alleged offences are linked to and what the significance of them was. Avellino did win promotion to Serie B whilst Izzo was at the club.
Armando Izzo’s career so far
Armando Izzo has been a mainstay in Serie A for many years. Hailing from Naples, the 30-year-old was on the books at Napoli during his youth but never made an appearance for the club.
After a loan at Triestina, he spent two years at Avellino between 2012 and 2014 which is when the alleged offences took place. They were promoted to Serie B whilst he was there and he played 30 games for them in Serie B in 2013/14.
After spending four years at Genoa, he joined Torino in 2018. He has made 115 appearances for Toro and scored nine times. He is now on loan at Monza for their first-ever season in the top flight.
It will be a blow to their campaign if Izzo is no longer able to play this season.
