Nine people "involved in the construction project" for Serie A side AS Roma's proposed new stadium were arrested on Tuesday, including the "owner of the company contracted to build the state of the art facility," according to the AFP. Officers from the Italian police "swooped in the early hours to arrest people on a range of charges that include a criminal conspiracy to corrupt public officials." No one from AS Roma "has been arrested or charged by police." Among those taken into custody is construction company Eurnova Owner Luca Parnasi, whose company is "in line to build the new ground." Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi said, "Those who did wrong will pay. We're for legality. If everything is up to standard, then we hope that the project can go ahead" (AFP, 6/13). FOOTBALL ITALIA reported Roma President James Pallotta insists AS Roma has "nothing to do with the arrests." Pallotta said that the club was "strangers" to the controversy and that there "was no reason for any further delays." Pallotta said, "I don't see why this should concern us with regards to the stadium. Am I concerned? No. Like it's been officially said, Roma have nothing to do with it. All of this will have no influence on the stadium" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 6/13).
