Italian prosecutors quiz Cannavaro and Trezeguet in soccer scandal

Jun 3, 2006, 13:51 GMT

Rome - Italian prosecutors quizzed Juventus players Fabio Cannavaro and David Trezeguet on Saturday as witnesses in the football scandal that has rocked Italy.

Cannavaro, captain of Italy's World Cup squad, and French striker Trezeguet, were asked about GEA, a powerful firm of football agents under investigation for allegedly controlling the transfer market through intimidation and unfair competition.

'I answered all the questions and removed all doubts,' said Cannavaro after the hour-long interrogation. 'The prosecutors were happy and have no plans to question me again.'

The investigators wanted to know from Trezeguet why he split with his former manger Antonio Caliendo and replaced him with his own father shortly before extending his contract with Juventus.

'I explained everything to the prosecutors and can travel to the World Cup with a clear conscience,' the Frenchman said.

One of the owners of GEA is Alessandro Moggi, son of former Juventus manager Luciano Moggi. Davide Lippi, son of national team coach Marcello Lippi, is also under investigation in the scandal.

Moggi, who resigned from Juve earlier this month after being indicted in various sports-fraud probes was reported by the Italian press to have influenced Lippi's team choices.