英语听力精选进阶版 13238（在线收听）

Italian footballers arrested in betting scandal

Report

What began with the arrest of a football legend is now threatening to cast a shadow over some of Italy's biggest clubs. When the diminutive former Italy striker Beppe Signori was arrested by police looking into an alleged betting scam, it looked as if the teams most directly affected were Atalanta and Sienna - big enough names in Italy, both recently promoted to Serie A - but hardly household names abroad. 

It's now emerged, though, that police are investigating four or five matches involving some of the biggest clubs in the land. The clubs themselves have not been accused of any wrongdoing. What investigators say they've uncovered is systematic match-fixing by a corrupt betting syndicate based in Bologna, which is even alleged to have spiked players' drinks in order to affect their performance. 

Coming just five years after Italy's biggest club, Juventus, was relegated for its part in the country's worst-ever match-fixing scandal the news is unlikely to restore Italians' battered faith in their footballing heroes.

Mark Duff, BBC News, Milan