Ex-Juventus star Fabrizio Miccoli sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for ordering mafia-style extortion
EX-JUVENTUS and Italy star Fabrizio Miccoli has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for ordering a mafia-style extortion.
The former striker, 42, was found guilty of hiring the son of a mafia boss to help his friend recover a £10,000 debt.
He was first investigated in 2013 following the incident a decade ago.
And Italy's Supreme Court has now upheld the lengthy jail term passed by Palermo's Court of Appeal for aggravated extortion, reported.
The trials heard Miccoli commissioned Mauro Lauricella, the son of Sicilian mob boss Antonino Lauricella, to make nightclub owner Andrea Graffagnini repay a debt.
Lauricella Jr was jailed for seven years for extortion last month.
Wiretaps monitored by investigators heard the footballer labelling prominent anti-mafia judge Giovanni Falcone as 'filth'.
Miccoli won ten caps for the Azzurri between 2003 and 2004, scoring two goals - both winners in friendlies against Portugal and Finland.
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He came through the youth ranks at AC Milan and Casarano and was a first-team regular with Juventus in the 2003-04 season.
Under Marcelo Lippi, the forward managed eight goals in 25 league games, placing him joint-third for the Old Lady that term alongside Alessandro Del Piero and behind David Trezeguet and Marco Di Vaio.
Miccoli went on to play for Fiorentina, Benfica and Palermo, playing at Old Trafford and Anfield in the Champions League.
He retired from playing in 2015 after a spell with Maltese club Birkikara, ending his club career with 220 goals in 615 appearances, including an overhead kick against Liverpool.
The dad of two had worked as Albanian club Dinamo Tirana's assistant manager since last December.
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