Italy legend Gianni Rivera hopes the betting scandal can “eliminate the bad apples” from the calcio system.

The investigation into alleged match-fixing under the influence of betting rings continues to expand with each day.

“This affects everyone and it’s important that the sanctions are proportionate to the damage done,” said former player and current FIGC director Rivera.

Italy legend Gianni Rivera hopes the betting scandal can “eliminate the bad apples” from the calcio system.

The investigation into alleged match-fixing under the influence of betting rings continues to expand with each day.

“This affects everyone and it’s important that the sanctions are proportionate to the damage done,” said former player and current FIGC director Rivera.

“We have to eliminate the bad apples. Man is a strange creature, as when he gets into a certain mechanism it becomes difficult to understand the motivation behind some shameful situations.

“It is a small minority behind these personalities, but unfortunately they make more news than the huge majority who abide by the rules.

“It is important for Italian football to create ways of combating these negative situations and send a message to the civil justice system, which is often very slow.”

It is not the best lead-in to Euro 2012, especially as Italy have dropped Domenico Criscito due to his involvement in the investigation.

“I think we can do well, but we’ll only know that from Sunday.”

The Azzurri’s first game of Group C is against Spain on June 10.

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