Betting Link 'Absurd' - Lazio Captain Stefano Mauri

Italian newspaper La Repubblica has reported that Mauri - handed a six-month ban in October last year for failing to report a case of match-fixing - is being investigated by prosecutors on links to Roberto Palmieri.

Investigations centre around a conversation on Skype between Palmieri - close friend of Italian defender Alessandro Zamperini - and an account with the username 'stefano160268' which has been linked to Mauri.

The conversation mentioned betting on a Serie A match between Lecce and Lazio in 2011, specifically on the game featuring more than 4.5 goals - coincidentally it ended 4-2 in favour of the Romans.

However, Mauri has slammed reports linking the 34-year-old midfielder to the Skype account.

wrote Mauri via his Facebook page on Thursday.