Stefano Mauri: 'I'm innocent of match-fixing'

Lazio forward Stefano Mauri has protested his innocence despite being found guilty of failing to report potential match-fixing to the authorities earlier this year.

The Italian was banned for nine months for his failure to bring the scandal to the attention of officials, but has claimed that he has done nothing wrong.

"I have never bet on football," he told Sky Sport Italia. "Tennis and basketball are the sports I bet on.

"I do not understand why I have ended up in this situation.

"I know that I haven't done anything wrong. Two years this has been going on. I hope it ends soon."

The charge relates to a match involving Lecce and Genoa in May 2011.