Rome prosecutors have placed former Serie A players Giuseppe Sculli and Simone Pepe under investigation for the illegal exercise of the sports agent profession, falsification, and attempted extortion.
The investigation, led by prosecutor Saverio Francesco Musolino, also involves sports agent Luigi Iachini Bellisarii and lawyer Alessandro Buccieri.
According to the probe, Pepe and Sculli allegedly operated as agents without the required license, negotiating deals for young football prospects and filing contracts with forged signatures at the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). While Iachini Bellisarii was the only licensed agent, prosecutors allege that Pepe, Sculli and Buccieri did the actual work of finding players and negotiating economic agreements.
When two young players — Costantino Favasuli, who came through Fiorentina's youth system, and Davide Bettella, a former defender with youth experience at Inter, Atalanta and Frosinone — ended their professional relationships with the group, the suspects allegedly attempted to demand payment of penalties worth hundreds of millions for early termination.
The defense rejects all accusations. Lawyers Cesare Placanica and Ernesto Rodriguez said: "The accusation hypothesis is completely unfounded. Incredibly, it does not take into account the CONI guarantee board's ruling, which ordered a graphological expert report that proved the authenticity of the signatures deemed false." The lawyers also noted that Favasuli reportedly communicated to the prosecutor his wish not to proceed against the suspects.
Sources
- https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/24-07-2026/sculli-e-pepe-indagati-per-esercizio-abusivo-professione-procuratori-e-tentata-estorsione.shtml
