Operation Penalty: Italian Police Uncover Major Match-Fixing Scheme

^{Pictured: During a press conference at the Reggio Calabria courthouse, prosecutors outlined the details of the operation}

Italian law enforcement has uncovered a large-scale match-fixing scheme known as Operation Penalty, involving football referees, businessmen, and a betting network.

The key figure in the case is referee Luigi Catanozo, accused of bribing fellow officials to manipulate match outcomes. According to Carabinieri.it, the bribes reportedly reached €10,000 per game.

How the Investigation Began

The probe was launched after Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) flagged suspicious betting patterns linked to the Benevento–Cesena match (Primavera 2) on January 13, 2024. During that game, the referee awarded several controversial penalties and red cards — actions that ensured the bet “Total Over 2.5 Goals” would win.

The case was referred to the Reggio Calabria Prosecutor’s Office, which, together with the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza, uncovered an organized network that had been manipulating football matches.

Who Was Behind the Scheme

Funding for the operation allegedly came from Giampiero and Tommaso Reale, owners of a betting shop in Sesto Fiorentino (Tuscany). Bets on rigged matches were reportedly placed through their company and via foreign unlicensed websites.

In addition to the Reale brothers, Luigi Catanozo, along with referees Giancarlo Fiumano and Lorenzo Santoro, have been arrested. All five suspects are currently under house arrest by order of the Reggio Calabria court.

Matches Under Investigation

Prosecutors have identified at least three fixed matches:

• Benevento – Cesena (Primavera 2)
• Verona – Cagliari (U-19)
• Sassuolo – Verona (U-19)

There was also an attempt to influence the Empoli–Lazio (Primavera) match, but it reportedly failed to produce the desired result.

According to investigators, referees used every possible method — from dubious penalties to unjustified red cards — but not all attempts succeeded.

Gambling Park adds: the criminal investigation is still ongoing, while the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has launched its own disciplinary proceedings against the referees implicated in the corruption scandal.