Prandelli - Italy could pull out of Euros

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has revealed the squad is ready to withdraw from Euro 2012 if required.

The Italian game is once again coming to terms with the shock of another match-fixing scandal. Police have made 19 arrests so far, while Domenico Criscito was dropped after he was questioned and his room raided at Italy's training camp at Coverciano. Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has already called for a suspension of domestic football for up to three years in order to get to the bottom of the scandal. Prandelli has now revealed that he would not have an issue with the national side withdrawing from the European Championships, that begin next week, should the authorities deem it necessary. "If they tell us that it is in the best interest of football for Italy to not go to the European Championship then that won't be a problem," he told the Italian media. "It would not be a problem for me. There are things which I deem to be more important. "I don't like crusades, I like to face things head on and not take a particular stance without thinking of the consequences. "I would like to just talk about football, but what is happening right now is forcing us to do otherwise. "We continue to maintain that the players involved in the investigation will not be a part of the squad for the European Championship."