Fabrizio Miccoli’s agent pledged to “clear everything up” after shocking reports he insulted a judge assassinated by the Mafia and is under investigation for extortion.
The player is out of contract with Palermo and under investigation for his friendship with Mauro, the son of mob boss Antonino Lauricella.
Fabrizio Miccoli’s agent pledged to “clear everything up” after shocking reports he insulted a judge assassinated by the Mafia and is under investigation for extortion.
The player is out of contract with Palermo and under investigation for his friendship with Mauro, the son of mob boss Antonino Lauricella.
Today there were remarkable developments claimed by newspaper La Repubblica, who published alleged wiretapped calls between the two men.
In these conversations Miccoli is supposed to have referred to “that scum Falcone.” This would be judge Giovanni Falcone, whose 1992 assassination in a roadside bomb attack started a wave of anti-Mafia feeling in Sicily.
La Repubblica also maintains Miccoli is now under investigation for extortion, as he allegedly asked Lauricella to get back some money owed to him by a nightclub.
It is far from clear at this point whether these transcripts of wiretapped conversations are genuine, were leaked by the police or are false.
“I cannot say anything, as the wiretaps do not appear in the evidence we have seen,” said Miccoli’s agent Francesco Caliandro.
“I can guarantee that everything will be clarified in front of the magistrates and we are at the full disposal of the authorities.
“We have already organised a meeting with the magistrates to clear everything up.”
Miccoli does not deny his friendship with Mauro Lauricella, but maintains he did not realise the man had Mafia links.
This is particularly unusual as Miccoli dedicated his goals to assassinated judges Falcone and Paolo Borsellino during a charity match in Palermo.
“It’s a great shame and I hope it is just a mistake,” said Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini.
“Knowing Miccoli, I doubt he could attempt to extort anyone. As for the phone calls, we need to know exactly what was said. I am disconcerted that journalists know about evidence before the lawyers do and I’d be even more disconcerted if he really said those things.”