Former Siena defender Emanuele Pesoli remains determined to confront his accusers despite ending his four-day hunger strike on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old, now with Verona, chained himself to the gates of the Italian Football Association (FIGC) headquarters on Saturday in protest at the three-year ban handed to him for his alleged involvement in match-fixing.
But following medical advice, and on the promise of a meeting with FIGC president Giancarlo Abete, he unchained himself and returned home on Wednesday.
Pesoli was hit with the lengthy ban from football as a result of federal prosecutor Stefano Palazzi's investigation into betting irregularities during last season.
He was accused by two former team-mates, defender Carlo Gervasoni and midfielder Filippo Carobbio, in assisting in the fixing of Siena's game with Varese in May 2011.
Pesoli told calciomercato.com: "I've never spoken to Palazzi but he suspended me for three years.
"I've never considered any plea bargain, I'm innocent and I'm not prepared to pay this penalty.
"I'm grateful to the FIGC for listening to me but I haven't got what I want yet.
"I want a meeting with Gervasoni and Carobbio but they haven't made that happen.
"Palazzi believed everything they said and I have never even spoken to him or had the chance to defend myself.
"He believed them and banned me for three years, while giving Gervasoni only three months."
He added: "I was at home, my phone rang - an unknown number.
"It was Gervasoni. I didn't know him at the time.
"After that call followed a lot of texts, mostly asking who would be playing on the next Sunday.
"They weren't direct questions, but they seemed to be asking for specific information."
Despite his suspicions at the time, Pesoli is still unclear as to why he was implicated by Gervasoni.
"I can only assume it was out of revenge that I wouldn't be his accomplice," he added.
"Maybe he thought if he dragged people down with him, he'd receive a lighter punishment.
"It's absurd that he's been banned for three months but I got three years.
"As far any contact with Carobbio - totally fabricated.
"My only crime was being a man of integrity and a clean player."
The Verona defender is set to hold talks with Abete at the FIGC headquarters in Rome at 10am on Friday morning.
Post Comment
