ROME ,ITALY (18 OCTOBER 1984) (REUTERS - ROLANDO FERRARIO)

GVs & SVs Italian soccer team captain and goalkeeper Dino Zoff (in red tie) walks out of law courts, surrounded by officials and newsmen (3 shots)
GVs Italian team coach Enzo Bearzot (in grey suit) walks out of law courts, crowds around him (2 shots)

Background: An Italian prosecutor recommended on October 19 that a corruption case against the Italian national soccer team be dropped for lack of evidence. Team coach Enzo Bearzot and retired captain Dino Zoff both appeared at the Rome courthouse on October 18 for questioning by deputy prosecutor Nitto Palama. The two journalists who had made the allegations were also questioned. They had written articles claiming Italy won the 1982 World Cup through bribery -- Cameroon players were bribed before a crucial first round match, they alleged. Italy and Cameroon drew 1-1, allowing Italy through to the quarter-finals. An official enquiry was opened when a Radical party deputy filed a legal action accusing persons unknown of corruption. Both Zoff and Bearzot always maintained the allegations were groundless.