Knowledge bank: Match fixing is emerging everywhere football is played and can no longer be termed one-offs. More often than not match fixing occurs in less prominent leagues and lower divisions and the bets are set on teams to lose.

Knowledge bank: Good fixers are experts on human nature, explains a journalist and academic who has researched the dynamics of match fixing.

Knowledge bank: The online sports betting business has an annual turnover of $80 billion and it is increasingly attractive to try and influence outcome of games. At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, FIFA set up a special early warning system to catch suspicious bets. FIFA and UEFA have also set up alert systems with other lotteries and gambling companies.

Knowledge bank: Match fixing is an old practice that has become easier because it is possible to gamble on losers.

Even if Italy become world champions on Sunday no amnesty will be granted for those implicated in the largest match-fixing scandal in Italian football. Italy’s Sports Minister and the emergency supreme of the Football Federation (FIGC) have bluntly rejected an amnesty proposal made by a member of the Forza Italia party.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has charged four top Series A clubs for match-fixing. They risk relegation if they are found guilty by the FIGC tribunal which begins 28 June.

Having been the president of a national football federation blown apart by match fixing is not necessarily considered a career stopper in international sport. Last week, FIFA president Sepp Blatter gave his full support to Franco Carraro who has resigned as president of the Italian Football Federation and said that he should continue to serve as a FIFA official.

Journalists have also played active roles in the Juventus match fixing scandal. Eight journalists are currently under police investigation and last week icon tv host Aldo Biscardi was forced to resign from his hugely popular soccer talk show after allegations that the show had been too favourable to Juventus.