Conte defends record after match-fixing claim

Juventus' Serie A winning coach Antonio Conte has come out fighting after his home was searched on Monday as part of an investigation into match-fixing by the Cremona public prosecutor.

Conte (pictured) was implicated in the Calcioscommesse affair after one of his former players - Filippo Carobbio - accused him of complicity in a fixed match during his time as coach of Siena in the 2010-11 season.

Carobbio claims Conte knew of an agreement to draw a match against Novara, after which both teams were promoted to Serie A.

"My football history as a player and coach speaks volumes," said Conte, a former combative midfielder with Italy and Juve.

"You can ask my teammates, my players and my opponents. Don't forget that for my honesty and integrity I've had to confront an extreme aggression.

"Last year with Siena we won promotion through sacrifice and effort.

"It was an amazing year and I repeat: I and my players have nothing to do with these allegations.

"What I want to know is why didn't the Cremona public prosecutor speak to me before I was investigated?"

Conte wasn't the only person connected with Juve to have been caught up in the affair.

Center-back Leonardo Bonucci, who is part of the Italy setup, was accused of involvement in match-fixing when he was at Bari.

Atalanta's Andrea Masiello, who has admitted to taking a bribe to score an own goal when at Bari, allegedly claimed Bonucci was one of the players involved in fixing results.

However, Bonucci has not been sought by prosecutors in Cremona or Bari and Juve president Andrea Agnelli insists the club has absolute faith in both coach and player.

"This is a worrying affair for the football world and we're following it with apprehension and bitterness, but that doesn't mean Antonio Conte is part of it," said Agnelli.

"His role, from what we've read, is as good as insignificant and, on top of that, we know the man and his values of integrity and honesty.

"As a club, Juventus and I personally are standing beside Antonio Conte and Leonardo Bonucci. We hope Leo will play a great European Championships. Antonio is and will be our coach next season in the Champions League."

While fellow Italy international Domenico Criscito, whose hotel room was searched by police at dawn on Monday, has been excluded from the Euros, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli confirmed Bonucci will remain on the squad taken to Poland and Ukraine.