Former Siena defender Emanuele Pesoli has chained himself in front of the Italian football federation (FIGC) headquarters in Rome and is on a hunger strike following his three-year ban.
Pesoli was found guilty in the betting scandal currently engulfing Italy and was banned from football for three years.
The 31-year-old insists that he is innocent and wants to meet his accusers, Filippo Carobbio and Carlo Gervasoni, in person and talk to them face to face.
"I want a confrontation in the courts on this injustice so I can defend myself properly," he said.
"My only mistake was answering that damn phone call when they asked me to sell the game. But I said no! I am innocent and I will prove it.
"This is a strong protest, but they are ruining my life for something I didn't do. Before I am forced to give up football, I want to fight with all my strength. I will wait here for someone from the FIGC, hopefully president Giancarlo Abete."
FIGC director general Antonello Valentini subsequently met Pesoli and urged him to end his hunger strike and protest his innocence through legal means.
Subhankar Mondal
